Six players of Nigerian heritage selected in 2026 NBA Draft
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Six players of Nigerian heritage were selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, highlighting Nigeria's growing presence in global basketball. The draftees include Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor, Otega Oweh, Felix Okpara, Tobi Lawal, and Ugonna Onyenso. Ebuka Okorie, a Stanford guard, was the 17th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder, though he is expected to join the Detroit Pistons. Zuby Ejiofor from St. John's University was selected 23rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks. Kentucky's Otega Oweh was picked 41st by the Miami Heat, with his rights likely transferring to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oweh averaged 18.6 points and 1.8 steals per game in his final college season. Felix Okpara, a former Ohio State and Tennessee center, was the 46th pick by the Orlando Magic. Tobi Lawal, a forward from Virginia Tech, was selected 48th by the Dallas Mavericks; he began playing basketball at age 16 in London before moving to the United States. Ugonna Onyenso, born in Imo State, was the 53rd pick by the Houston Rockets. Onyenso, who previously played football, moved to the US in 2018 and later attended the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal. He was the youngest player to represent Nigeria's senior men's basketball team at 17.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadSouth Africa has processed more than 15,000 Malawian nationals for repatriation, with thousands more awaiting clearance, as the country faces anti-immigration marches that could turn violent. Citizen-led groups have set an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave, raising fears of renewed xenophobic violence. Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi stated that 15,162 Malawian nationals have been processed for deportation and repatriation. Living conditions for Malawians in KwaZulu-Natal province had become "untenable." Growing security concerns, including looted businesses and targeted foreigners, have led several countries, including Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to offer voluntary repatriations for their citizens. The Border Management Authority processed 8,200 foreign nationals for repatriation at the Beitbridge border post between June 12 and 24, including 6,709 Malawian nationals and 1,521 Zimbabwean nationals. Weeks of xenophobic unrest have resulted in at least three deaths according to official sources, while Mozambican authorities reported five deaths among their nationals. A Malawian national was also killed during a march in Pietermaritzburg. International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola expressed concern over groups "enforcing the law" by moving from house to house. These tensions precede local government elections scheduled for November 4. Past violence targeting undocumente
Nigerian singer Chimamanda Chukwuma, known as Qing Madi, surprised young TikTok sensation Dolapo Ezieke with gifts and cash. This surprise follows Dolapo's viral performance in the "Come Slide" challenge, which garnered widespread attention and a reaction from Qing Madi. The singer shared a video on her Instagram Story showing her presenting Dolapo with a Frozen-themed backpack, toys, and a red gift box. During the interaction, Qing Madi revealed a box containing multiple stacks of Nigerian naira notes in ₦500 denominations. Dolapo gained prominence through classroom videos posted by her teacher, Imikan Inyang, known as Backhat Dude, featuring primary school pupils participating in dance challenges and trending videos. Dolapo's performance in Qing Madi's "Come Slide" challenge was a standout, leading the singer to jokingly comment about getting her song back. Dolapo has since become a prominent figure of the classroom group, attracting a growing fan base for her confidence and expressive personality, with her personal TikTok account, managed by her mother, nearing 50,000 followers.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office NHTDAO to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health agenda. Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, has been appointed as the pioneer National Coordinator. The office will be housed within the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and aims to reinforce existing health institutions, harmonize public and private health entities, and operationalize the National Digital Health Architecture. A steering committee co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf, will oversee the NHTDAO. The President expects the NHTDAO to accelerate Nigeria's transition to a secure, interoperable, and data-driven health system, aligning with his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.