Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of the National Basketball Association Africa (NBA Africa) has won Forbes Africa Investment Catalyst Award, the basketball body announced on March 9.
Forbes Africa describes itself as a pan African media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.
"Congratulations to @cakamanzi NBA Africa CEO, for winning the Forbes Africa Investment Catalyst Award at the prestigious Emperor’s Palace event!,” NBA Africa posted on its X page.
On December 27, 2023, NBA named Akamanzi as CEO of NBA Africa, describing her as an accomplished business executive and international trade and investment lawyer.
She started assuming her duties on January 23, 2024.
In this role, Akamanzi is responsible for overseeing the NBA’s business and basketball development efforts in Africa, and is responsible for continuing to grow the popularity of basketball, the NBA and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) across the continent, including through grassroots basketball development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, and social responsibility initiatives that improve the livelihoods of African youth and families.
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For the last six and a half years before joining the basketball association, Akamanzi was CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), where she contributed to Rwanda’s economic development by enabling private sector growth.
Under her leadership, RDB implemented several business policy reforms and initiatives that led to significant investment and development for the country, including through partnerships with the BAL, Arsenal FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Bayern Munich and TIME Magazine, among others.
She earned a Master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association, a global sports and media organisation with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. It conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the BAL.