Ball Affects Lives, a Dallas-based non-profit dedicated to empowering youth through sports, education, and life skills development, has named Oluwafemi Adefeso as its new vice president and board member.
The organisation said the new appointment is part of efforts to support the development of basketball in Nigeria.
Adefeso, a renowned Nigerian sports media personality, youth advocate, and social entrepreneur, brings a wealth of experience to the role. The new vice president, who is also the founder and executive director of Balls Activating Literacy and Leadership (BALL), which has empowered over 2,000 young people across Africa by providing sports equipment, literacy programmes, and leadership training.
With a career spanning prestigious organisations like ESPN Africa, BBC Sport, NBA Africa, and FIBA Media, Adefeso is a respected figure in global sports media.
He made history as the first African journalist to interview NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James and contributed to NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon’s biography, DREAM.
Speaking on the appointment, Adefeso said: “It’s not everyday you connect with an organization in another part of the world who perfectly shares your ideology and objectives for empowering youth in underserved communities using sports as its vehicle. My goal is to continue to use sports as an enabler for transforming the lives of African youths.”
As Vice President, Adefeso will spearhead strategy and programme execution for Ball Affects Lives, ensuring deeper impact both in the U.S. and internationally.
His appointment aligns with a strategic partnership between Ball Affects Lives and BALL, integrating the African outreach program into the organisation’s mission.
“We are thrilled to welcome Oluwafemi to the team,” said Joyce Ekworomadu, president of Ball Affects Lives. “His leadership, global experience, and passion for youth development will be invaluable as we expand our impact on underprivileged athletes worldwide.”
