Hotcoal basketball
Youth Development & Hotcoal basketball
Dr. Ubon Udoh’s passion for youth development is exemplified by his founding of Hotcoal Basketball, one of Nigeria’s most successful basketball clubs.
Over the past 30 months hotcoal basketball has amassed over 25 trophies (19 first pace championships and 6 second place finishes) in all competitions. The programme has also renovated and built afresh 7 basketball courts across Nigeria and empowered over 500 youths directly as past of the hotcoal basketball youth empowerment scheme where young players are given academic and other scholarships and groomed to be part of the larger basketball picture where opportunities for economic empowerment through sports exist.
Two of the members of the record-setting Nigerian female basketball team from the just concluded Olympics are past members of the programme and 6 of the players on the Nigerian under 18 silver medal-winning team from the just concluded under 18 African basketball championship in South Africa were also past members of the Hotcoal basketball programme. Several alumni of the programme are on scholarships in Europe, Asia, and the USA.
The Hotcoal Basketball programme hosts monthly tournaments in 8 states across Nigeria. This includes a gender-focused programme in Maiduguri, Borno state working with girls schools and encouraging the building of self-esteem and confidence through sports, and a mental health intervention for conflict victims and conflict orphans using basketball as a platform for trauma healing and counseling.
Dr. Ubon Udoh
In addition to his work in philanthropy, Dr. Udoh is the Founder of Hotcoal Basketball, a top-tier Nigerian basketball club that has become a beacon of youth empowerment. Over the past 30 months, Hotcoal Basketball has amassed over 15 trophies, while using the sport as a platform to nurture talent and inspire young people to achieve greatness on and off the court.
Dr. Udoh’s impact extends far beyond sports. Through his Cornerstone Foundation, he has supported hundreds of young people with scholarships, leadership training, and educational opportunities. His foundation has donated over 10 basketball courts to schools and universities across Nigeria, and empowered more than 500 youths through basketball and other community programs.
Beyond youth empowerment, Dr. Udoh has worked with global organizations like the World Bank and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), where his expertise in monitoring and evaluation has been instrumental in rebuilding crisis-affected regions.