Giants of Africa Co-Founder Masai Ujiri has urged African youth to believe in their potential, grow with purpose, and uplift others along the way, saying the future of the continent rests in their hands. He said this on Sunday, July 27, at the International Youth Day Forum held at BK Arena in Kigali, where over 2,000 youth aged 15 to 19 from 20 African countries gathered as part of the ongoing Giants of Africa Festival. The week-long event, which runs from July 26 to August 2, brings together young innovators, entrepreneurs and students. ALSO READ: What you should know as Giants of Africa Festival returns to Kigali Among the notable guests were Minister of Youth and Arts Jean-Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima, Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, and Fred Swaniker, Founder of the African Leadership University (ALU). Ujiri thanked President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the Imbuto Foundation, and the Rwandan government for their support to the continental initiative. “I am really overwhelmed just by the support of people of Africa and how they have supported. We can all support each other and even make ourselves bigger.” He also acknowledged the NBA family for its long-term collaboration in promoting basketball across the continent. “My mom used to pull my ear and she would say, ‘Is this basketball going to feed you? Is this basketball going to feed you?’ It’s feeding a whole lot of other people now.” Ujiri encouraged youth not to compare themselves to others but to recognise their own values and shared roots. ALSO READ: Ujiri believes Africa has ‘everything’ to become great “Because you see all of us here that came to speak, we say we are CEOs, presidents, we are champions, we say we are this, we are that. Guess what? We all grew up in Africa. We wore our pants the same, we wore our shorts the same, and we went to school with no shoes. We all did it the same. And we got to where we are. If we can do it, I’m telling you I’m not that smart. You guys are smarter. I know all of us are not as smart as you, the youth. If we can do it, you guys can do it bigger, better,” he said. “We dreamed of something big, something that was not about ourselves. It’s about you guys. We will come and go. You are tomorrow. You are the future of Africa. So, take it and go. Believe and grow and be better. And make this continent something.” “When you become something, stay humble. Come back and take people with you. Be something. Be meaningful to our continent. Because our continent is bigger than all of us. And it's time we respect that. Instead of fighting each other, we stay together,” he added. Minister Utumatwishima commended Giants of Africa for choosing Rwanda to host the 2025 edition of the festival. “Your name alone speaks volumes, ‘Giants’. It’s not about height or fame; it’s about mindset. You remind us that being a giant is possible for African youth, not just in basketball, but in business, global leadership, the arts, and innovation.” ALSO READ: Giants of Africa empowers 50 students in Huye Addressing the young participants, the minister cited a message from President Kagame, who recently urged young people and leaders to discard two harmful mindsets that hold the continent backward. “The first is the blaming mindset. Many of us have had the opportunity to study, to travel, and to connect with fellow talented Africans. If we fail to rise as the giants of Rwanda and of Africa, we must look in the mirror. The responsibility is ours, no excuses.” “The second is the savior mentality. We were created by the same God who created Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, and Stephen Curry. We carry the same potential. We must stop waiting for someone to save us. Poverty is our common enemy. Let’s fight it boldly together with unity and initiatives. And if help comes, let it find us already in motion.”
