Northern Nigeria’s female basketball players chase bigger dreams
A grassroots initiative called Grassroots To Greatness is helping young girls in northern Nigeria overcome cultural and social barriers to participate in basketball. The program emphasizes modesty and cultural identity, allowing girls to train while wearing hijabs and athletic gear.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of gender equality, sports, and cultural preservation in conservative regions, providing a model for female empowerment.
A grassroots basketball initiative is giving girls in northern Nigeria a chance to train, compete and dream bigger.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Girls take part in a basketball training session organised by Grassroots To Greatness, which provides young female players with opportunities to train and compete [Courtesy of Grassroots To Greatness] By Yahuza Bawage Published On 27 Aug 2026 27 Aug 2026 Abuja, Nigeria – Khamila Sani Ibrahim remembers growing up in Kano State in northern Nigeria, where opportunities for girls to play organised sport were limited and seeing girls on the basketball court was uncommon.
When visiting her grandparents during school holidays, she had to find ways to fit basketball around family expectations.
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