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Charlotte set as flagship city for dual-track sports and careers initiative

LOS ANGELES, CA, USA – February 25, 2026 – The SEED Project, together with implementation partners the Pan-African Council, Champs for Change, and the Global Africa Business Accelerator (GABA) Center, has taken a major step toward launching the U.S.–Africa Youth Talent Combine and Sports Careers Summit following a high-level Stakeholder Roundtable held during NBA All-Star Week in Los Angeles.

Convened by SEED Project and supported by SEED founder Amadou Gallo Fall, the roundtable brought together HBCU leaders, African and Caribbean diaspora representatives, city officials, impact investors, sports executives, and youth development organizations. The group aligned around the shared goal of using sport as a platform for education, careers, and economic mobility on both sides of the Atlantic.

Dual-track model: on-court and across the ecosystem

The U.S.–Africa Youth Talent Combine and Sports Careers Summit builds on a historical combine model while adding a second, equally weighted track focused on careers:
A high-performance basketball combine for athletes, featuring standardized testing, positional skill work, and 5‑on‑5 evaluations.

A parallel Sports Careers Summit for non‑athlete and multi‑interest youth, offering personality-based career assessments, hands-on labs, shadowing experiences, and mentoring across media, analytics, operations, coaching, entrepreneurship, technology, esports, and sports diplomacy.

“This is about who gets to build the future of sport,” said Fabien Anthony, Chairman of the Pan-African Council. “We are designing a platform where young people can move from fan to professional on the floor, in the boardroom, and across the global economy.”

Charlotte as flagship launch

Roundtable participants endorsed Charlotte, North Carolina as the flagship host city for the first event, subject to final alignment with the Charlotte Hornets and facility partners. The concept calls for:

• A three‑day program at the Hornets’ arena, combining on‑court evaluation and off‑court career exploration.
• HBCU- and city-led learning experiences, using Charlotte’s history with HBCU tournaments and NBA All-Star as a live case study in major event delivery, cultural impact, and local economic benefits.

“Charlotte offers a powerful classroom,” said Kimberly Nelson, CEO of the GABA Center. “Young people will see how a single event mobilizes hundreds of roles from game operations and storytelling to hospitality, technology, finance, healthcare and city planning.”

Centering youth careers in sport

Champs for Change (C4C) will lead design and delivery of the Sports Careers Summit, ensuring non‑athlete youth are full co‑beneficiaries of the program rather than an add‑on.

“Every young person who walks into this experience should leave with a clearer pathway whether that’s in front of the camera, behind the camera, at the scorer’s table, in the startup lab, or leading in their community,” said Memuna Williams, co‑founder of Champs for Change. “We’re building a generation of African and diaspora leaders who see sport as an industry.”

Next steps

SEED Project and its partners agreed to a 90‑day roadmap that includes finalizing dates and space requirements with the Charlotte Hornets, refining the combine and Summit curriculum, mapping industry roles to HBCU and African university programs, and structuring a shared sponsorship and scholarship fund. A post-meeting report, recording these commitments was circulated among project stakeholders on February 24.

“This initiative is a movement to build prosperity across the continent, elevate youth through mentorship and professionalism, and integrate African talent into global value chains,” the partners said in a joint statement.

About the project partners

SEED Project (Sports for Education and Economic Development) is an International NGO that uses education and basketball to develop the next generation of socially conscious African leaders that have the tools to lead their country. Learn more at seedproject.org.

Pan-African Council (PAC) is the premier global leadership and strategic development organization dedicated to elevating Africa and her Diaspora on the world stage. Guided by its multi-faceted approach, the Council bridges political divides through diplomatic engagement; unlocks shared prosperity by fostering economic opportunities; and empowers communities with targeted social initiatives. Learn more at panafricancouncil.org.

Champs for Change (C4C) is a pan‑African social enterprise that supports young people who want to build careers in sport, both on and off the field. Through resources, mentoring, training, connection to networks and collaboration, C4C helps the people behind the game turn passion for sport into real education, work, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Learn more at champs4change.org and share your interest in working with C4C here.

The GABA Center (Global Africa Business Accelerator) is the diplomatic and commercial bridge connecting the United States, Africa, and the global diaspora. Through its four strategic pillars, Capacity Building, Workforce Development, Venture Building, and Ecosystem Building, GABA delivers integrated programming that strengthens local economies and opens global pathways for entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions. Learn more at gabacenter.com.

Media contacts

SEED Project – info@seedproject.org
Pan-African Council – media@panafricancouncil.org
Champs for Change – info@champs4change.org
GABA Center – pr@gabacenter.com

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Virtual – [December 5, 2024]

In preparation for the Education for Africa Dialogic Summit (EADiS), the Pan-African Council has partnered with Global Impact Industries and Africa Voices Dialogue to launch a virtual summit this December 6, 2024, which will culminate in a 3-day in-person summit and 2-day excursion in Nairobi, Kenya, or Johannesburg, South Africa, from May 26–30, 2025. The initiative will focus on the historical and educational connections between HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and African institutions, aiming to deepen Pan-African integration within academic departments, leadership, and students. This effort will foster a global network of Pan-African scholars and advocates across the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, and the broader Diaspora.

The panel will feature vibrant discussions between leaders from African universities and HBCUs, focusing on strategies to champion the African education agenda globally. Building on the momentum of the recent Education for Africa Dialogic Summit, this initiative aims to lay the foundation for lasting partnerships in support of Pan-African education and connecting with the broader global diaspora community.

Project objectives include:

1. Bridge Pan-African History with HBCUs
   This panel will highlight the historical ties between Pan-Africanism and HBCUs, creating an avenue for
   educational institutions from the U.S. and Africa to integrate and collaborate. This will support the shared
   vision of uniting African and African American students and scholars in the global academic community.
2. Facilitate E-HBCU Panel with Academic Leadership and Students
   Host a virtual event scheduled on December 6, 2024. The event will focus on leadership from various
   academic departments, allowing both faculty and students to discuss important issues, exchange ideas,
   and develop strategies for long-term cooperation.
3. Invite 14 HBCU and African Universities Speakers
   Representatives from at least four HBCUs will be invited to speak on the history and future of Pan-
   Africanism in education while discussing potential collaborations with African universities.
4. Invite Key Agencies, Global Diaspora and Key Leaders
   Representatives from key agencies will be invited to speak on the resources, private sector
   emerging market commitments of HBCUs, while discussing potential collaborations with African
   universities.
5. Engage African Universities
   African universities within our existing network will be invited to participate. This will strengthen
   existing relationships and open opportunities for future partnerships.
6. Provide High-Level Administration and Support
   We will provide specialized administrative support throughout the event. This includes recommending
   and securing relevant HBCU panelists who are influential in Pan-Africanism and global education.

RSVP link: https://www.bit.ly/AVD_31

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA  —

The Pan-African Council (PAC) recently participated in Johnson C. Smith University‘s Lyceum Engagement Series on February 22nd, 2024, highlighting its mission to collaborate with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in supporting Pan-African development.

“There’s a significant number of developments happening across Africa, and diverse nationalities are involved, however African-Americans are underrepresented,” stated Fabien Anthony, Chairman of the PAC, according to the QCity Metro interview. Joining Anthony at the Lyceum luncheon were Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and founder of the SEED Project (a youth leadership development program through basketball), and Her Royal Highness Princess Tirelo Molotlegi of South Africa’s Royal Bafokeng Nation.

The forum aimed to dispel misconceptions and inaccurate information about Africa, while showcasing its positive developments. “Our goal is to demonstrate the opportunities available to JCSU,” said Anthony. “We are keen to explore avenues for expanding global education, facilitating student exchange programs, and collaborating with Mr. Fall and the Princess’ initiatives.”

Princess Molotlegi addressed sustainable community development and educational development, while Mr. Fall discussed opportunities for student-athletes.

A Sports-Oriented Approach

Mr. Fall emphasized his mission of fostering a stronger connection between the BAL and Black Americans. Following the BAL’s launch in 2021, there has been some American participation, including celebrity entertainer J. Cole. This trend has steadily increased year after year. The BAL’s partnership with the NBA has accelerated the league’s growth in its short lifespan of three years. Recognizing basketball’s global appeal, Mr. Fall seeks to capitalize on this popularity by engaging HBCU players.

“We want to make the BAL an option for basketball players to continue their careers. A player from JCSU can look at us and see us as an option,” he stated.

A 2020 study by the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) revealed that only 1.2% of college basketball players are drafted by the NBA annually. This percentage shrinks further each year due to the increasing number of international players entering the draft.

Over 20% of college basketball players pursue professional careers internationally or in the NBA’s G-League, its developmental league. The rapidly growing BAL presents another promising avenue for college basketball players to pursue professional aspirations.

Mr. Fall expressed his hope that this message will resonate with potential players from JCSU and other HBCUs.

Looking Forward

As reported by QCity Metro, Mr. Anthony indicated that the PAC will continue exploring avenues to connect with HBCUs and the African American community, aligning with its existing initiatives such as trade forums and youth engagement programs.

In 2022, the Council supported the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, fostering collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean Islands through knowledge sharing on investments, trade, climate change, health, and more. Beyond event coordination, PAC offers youth mentorship and development programs, along with grants and programs that enhance youth access to education, development skills, mentorship, and sustainability initiatives.

“There’s been significant past discourse about organizations developing Pan-African engagement,” concluded Mr. Anthony. “The Council is here to demonstrably taking action.”

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA  —

The Pan-African Council and Johnson C. Smith University – JCSU join forces in Charlotte, North Carolina for the university’s Lyceum Engagement Series on February 22nd, 2024.

The engaging panel discussion will include Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and founder of the SEED Project who will speak on the significance of sports, youth, and basketball as a socioeconomic driver across Africa; Her Royal Highness Princess Tirelo Molotlegi of South Africa’s Royal Bafokeng Nation who will speak on sustainable community development and the empowerment of youth and girls; and our very own Chairman, Mr Fabien Anthony of the Pan-African Council who will discuss meaningful Africa-Diaspora engagement, impact investments, and fostering economic and social prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.

The panel will be followed by a Q&A period where students, alumni, staff, and other participants will ask questions relating to the discussion and possibilities for expanding global education, partnerships, and collaboration. Most importantly, the event will aim to explore further partnership opportunities in the aforementioned areas to further support Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ (HBCUs’) engagement with the rapid developments happening across the Africa continent.

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