05/01/2022
Africa
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Reigning Women's AfroBasket MVP Adaora Elonu commits to nurturing new talents in Nigeria

ENUGU (Nigeria) - Nigeria international player Adaora Elonu has hosted an all-girls basketball camp last month with a mission of discovering and nurturing young talents in the country.

Her first bold step towards achieving this happened at the Indoor Sports Hall, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu on December 27 during the first edition of the "All Dreams Achieved [ADA]" Camp in her home community of Enugu. 

"THE ONE-DAY CAMP WAS GREAT. I WAS ABLE TO GIVE BACK IN A WAY THAT WAS EASY, BY HELPING TO TEACH AND STRENGTHEN BASIC BASKETBALL FUNDAMENTALS."- Adaora Elonu

The event, in the words of Elonu, came about her desire to fulfil an inner calling of helping other young girls by giving them an opportunity to learn the basic fundamentals of the game.

"I had many different inspirations. Past teammates and friends like Uju Ugoka who has done a camp in Enugu earlier this year and Ndidi Madu who runs clinics and contributes to many girls basketball teams in Nigeria. They both organize these events through their Foundations," the 31-year-old noted.

"Once establishing the ADA Foundation I wanted the first event to be about basketball, focused on the girls and ladies in my community.

"Uju Ugoka held hers earlier this year and it hosted a lot of players. Maybe mine is the first only for girls. The one-day camp was great. I was able to give back in a way that was easy, by helping to teach and strengthen basic basketball fundamentals," she pointed out.

 
Elonu, who is a three-time Women's AfroBasket champion and was voted MVP of the last edition of the tournament, notes that: "The girls were receptive and looked like they were both enjoying while working hard. I left the camp wanting more and wishing it was longer. A good sign for me to make sure I allow this to continue as often as I can," volunteered Elonu.

Elonu, who last featured for Spar Uni Girona, adds that she was left impressed by the end of the camp and points out that one of the important aspects in a camp for her was the adequate attention to the about 40 campers that were in attendance.

"I want to do more, and Enugu will be the primary city for now, especially with the support of Enugu State Government and the coaches on base here like Chiedozie Nwoye.

"I would love to do camps in other cities as well. The ones who were in camp were given attention and skills to continue to develop. There were players with experience and players that it was their first experience with basketball. Each received skills that should allow them to practice outside of camp and grow their craft," the 1.85m (6ft 1in) forward said. 

Elonu saw at close range the love the girls felt seeing her physically in their community with many photos taken.

"Many of them made me feel special as they mentioned watching me play with the D'Tigress and being happy to be able to attend the camp," the reigning Women's AfroBasket MVP recalled. 

FIBA