Earlier in January, IAMGOLD and Giants of Africa inaugurated a third sports centre together with Vista Bank. The state-of-the-art multi-sports venue located in Bobo-Dioulasso (the second largest city of Burkina Faso), will host 3 separate courts for basketball, volleyball and handball and other amenities. Get ready to see some action!  

This renovation project is part of IAMGOLD’s four-year partnership with Giants of Africa, which aims to encourage the development of youth through the power of basketball and create long-term opportunities to communities where IAMGOLD operates.  

Signed in 2021, the program includes the construction or renovation of basketball courts (or other sports venues) in IAMGOLD’s host countries of Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali as well as the organization of a variety of multi-day basketball and life-skills camps. 

​​​About Giants of Africa

Established in 2003 by NBA Champion and Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and President, Masai Ujiri, Giants of Africa has been partnering with companies such as IAMGOLD since that time. To date, over 5,000 youth have participated in basketball camps and 20 basketball courts have been built across the continent. Giants of Africa aims to build a total of 100 basketball courts throughout the continent — four of them are built or renovated in partnership with IAMGOLD — two in Burkina Faso, one in Senegal and a fourth court to come in 2023-2024. 

Of the four planned, three have already been completed: the one in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), featured in this article, and two others, in Kedougou (Senegal) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), opened respectively in 2022 and 2021. 

“This newly-renovated venue will offer local youth countless opportunities to show what they are capable of doing on and off the court,” said Oumar Toguyeni, Senior Vice President, IAMGOLD’s External Affairs & Sustainability. “Team sports such as basketball, volleyball and handball help foster resilience, focus and accountability – life lessons that extend far beyond the court. This is the kind of impact that has inspired IAMGOLD to partner with Giants of Africa. This project goes beyond our company. It is also a contribution of all the employees of the Essakane mine, which carries special meaning for those who call Bobo-Dioulasso their hometown.”  

This partnership is an integral part of IAMGOLD’s comprehensive community development program, which aims to contribute tangible benefits to our host communities by fostering economic growth, improving access to health and education, and investing in sport and cultural projects.  

IAMGOLD’s investment with Giants of Africa totals $1 million over four years. The budget for the basketball court in Burkina Faso was $215K.