The Government of South Sudan has praised a partnership between Stanbic Bank South Sudan, NBA Africa and the Luol Deng Foundation aimed at expanding basketball and empowering young people across the country.
The officials made the remarks during the finals of the second edition of the Stanbic Jr. NBA League held in Juba, bringing together students, sports leaders and representatives from various institutions to celebrate youth talent and development through sport.
The championship match saw Gumbo Hawks take on Liberty Clippers in a thrilling and closely contested encounter that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
In the end, Gumbo Hawks secured the title with a narrow 38–37 victory, winning the Stanbic Jr. NBA League Season Two trophy by just one point.
Addressing participants during the event, Mary Nawai Martin, South Sudan’s Minister of Youth and Sports, emphasized the importance of sports in promoting unity and national development.
“Sports does not have any tribe, and that is very important for a country like ours that is working to achieve lasting peace,” she said.
The minister noted that investing in sports can help shape a healthier and more productive generation of young people while strengthening national unity.
“If we fully implement sports programs in this country, our youth will be healthy, hardworking and united. Sports can help our young people avoid corruption, tribalism, laziness and isolation while encouraging them to pursue their dreams,” she added.
Nawai also commended Stanbic Bank for its commitment to supporting youth sports initiatives in the country and urged other private sector institutions to follow the same path.
“We appreciate the effort Stanbic Bank is putting into developing sports in South Sudan. The government recognizes the important role of the private sector in supporting youth development. Without the support of private partners, it will always be difficult to achieve our development goals,” youth minister said.
She called on more companies and organizations to invest in sports and other initiatives that empower young people across the country.
Also speaking during the finals, Arek Aldo Ajou Deng, Press Secretary in the Office of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Luol Deng Foundation, said the competition goes beyond basketball and is helping transform young lives.
“This competition is more than basketball itself it is about transformation. This league alone has already impacted about 450 children from 30 schools,” she said.
Arek thanked Stanbic Bank and NBA Africa for partnering with the Luol Deng Foundation to promote youth talent and provide opportunities for students to develop their skills.
She also revealed that she had informed President Salva Kiir Mayardit about the initiative and the importance of expanding youth sports programs in the country.
“As we commend the work of Stanbic Bank, we also urge other partners to join in investing in sports. Even the smallest support can transform someone’s life,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lilian Onyach, Head of Brand and Marketing for Stanbic Bank Kenya and Stanbic Bank South Sudan, described basketball as a natural choice for investment in the country.
“When you think of South Sudan, you think of basketball,” Onyach said. “It was an easy decision for us to support this sport because it resonates strongly with young people.”
She said the program has already had a significant impact on youth in the capital.
“Sports teach discipline, teamwork and time management. Through this program we have engaged about 450 children, trained referees, and involved more than 30 schools,” she explained.
Onyach added that the bank plans to expand the initiative beyond Juba and bring in more partners to support grassroots sports development.
“The next phase is to make it bigger. We want to reach more communities and involve more partners so that more young people can benefit from sports,” she said.
Also present at the event, Cirisio Zachariah, Central Equatoria State Minister of Education, expressed appreciation to the organizers and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting sports activities in schools.
He encouraged students to take sports seriously, noting that participation in athletics helps build discipline, teamwork and leadership skills that are essential for their future.
The Stanbic Jr. NBA League focuses on boys and girls aged 16 years and under, using basketball as a platform to promote youth development, teamwork, leadership and life skills.
The initiative is organized through a partnership between Stanbic Bank South Sudan, NBA Africa and the Luol Deng Foundation, with participation from schools and support from government institutions.
Through this collaboration, young athletes are given the opportunity to develop their basketball skills while learning important values such as discipline, education, teamwork and leadership.
Organizers say the program forms part of a broader effort to grow basketball in South Sudan while empowering young people and nurturing the next generation of talent both on and off the court.
