We Built a Court in Buguma City — Here's What That Means
June 2023 · Kalabari National College, Rivers State, Nigeria
In April and June of 2023, The Future Is Here Foundation completed one of its most significant infrastructure projects to date: the construction and commissioning of a full basketball court at Kalabari National College in Buguma City, Rivers State, Nigeria. For the students and youth of that community, it wasn't just a court — it was a statement.
Buguma City and Kalabari National College
Buguma is the administrative headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area in Rivers State, Nigeria — a city with deep cultural heritage and a large youth population that has historically had limited access to organized sports infrastructure. Kalabari National College is one of the region's oldest and most respected secondary schools, carrying generations of academic tradition.
Despite its history, the school lacked a proper outdoor court where students could develop their athletic skills. TFIHF identified this gap and made the Buguma court build a priority for 2023.
What Was Built
The project delivered a full outdoor basketball court — hardwood-standard playing surface markings, regulation backboards and rims, and a properly laid foundation designed to withstand the regional climate. Construction and commissioning were documented across multiple site visits in April and June 2023.
The court immediately became a hub for student activity, after-school programs, and community pickup games — exactly the kind of ripple effect TFIHF designs its projects to create.
"This is the first facility of its kind at this school. What TFIHF built here isn't just a court — it's infrastructure for the next generation."
— TFIHF Project Documentation, 2023
Part of a Larger Pattern
The Buguma court wasn't TFIHF's first infrastructure investment in Nigeria. Going back to 2013, founder Mactabene Amachree — a WNBA legend and Olympian — was distributing WNBA-level equipment to youth in Rivers State at the Governor Alfred Diete Spiff Gym. In 2015, TFIHF donated basketballs, footwear, and gear to the PHALGA community. In 2016, the foundation organized a full boys and girls basketball tournament with cash prizes and equipment for participants.
The Buguma court represents the evolution of that work — from equipment donations to permanent infrastructure. It is the kind of investment that lasts beyond a single camp or event.
TFIHF's model is built on the belief that sports infrastructure is community infrastructure. A court gives youth somewhere to go, something to work toward, and a space where mentorship can happen organically — every single day.