Speaking during the official launch of the facility in a question-and-answer session with Masai Ujiri, co-founder of Giants of Africa and the driving force behind the Zaria Court concept, President Kagame emphasised the power of enabling environments and investing in youth potential as keys to Africa's transformation.
'In my mind, thinking about the youth of Africa, I don't think about borders,' Kagame said. 'We need to make sure that everything we do translates their hidden potential into reality. The youth are the first asset the continent has.'
The inauguration ceremony, held on the sidelines of the ongoing Giants of Africa Festival 2025 in Kigali, drew African business leaders, creatives, sports icons, and youth from across the continent. Among them was Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, whom Ujiri praised for championing the African Renaissance initiative aimed at galvanising leadership and economic transformation across Africa.
Construction of Zaria Court Kigali began in August 2023, with President Kagame and Ujiri breaking ground on what was envisioned to be the first of several such hubs across Africa.
The complex now stands complete, featuring an 80-room hotel, multiple restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a gym, co-working spaces, a podcast studio, a broadcast centre, and a large multipurpose arena for sports, concerts, and cultural events.
Outside, the facility includes five-a-side football pitches, a callisthenics area, children's play zones, and open green spaces. A modular retail park, built from stacked shipping containers, provides affordable space for Kigali's rising designers, food vendors, and small business owners.
'This is more than a building,' Ujiri said. 'It's an ecosystem. It creates community. It creates value. It shapes economies.'
In the heartfelt conversation with Ujiri, President Kagame shared his personal reflections on sports and leadership, admitting he was never an athlete himself but always saw the value in creating platforms for others to thrive.
'I wasn't a sportsman by any standard,' Kagame said. 'But I was a sportsman at heart, and often thought about what I missed. If I can enable those who can do more and benefit the whole country, then I'm the happiest person.'
He also spoke to the economic impact of sports, pointing to Rwanda's own experience with the BK Arena and other investments as proof that sports can be a serious contributor to national development.
'This is no longer just about the future. It's already happening,' Kagame emphasised. 'Statistics show that even across Africa, sports can bring in billions to the continent. So, it's not just a story anymore. The question is whether we choose to be part of reaping those benefits.'
Ujiri, visibly passionate, challenged African governments and private sectors to stop viewing sports as merely recreational and instead recognise it as a business and a growth engine.
'We're not going to sit down and just let this happen anymore,' declared the former basketball player and president of the Toronto Raptors. 'This is a template for Africa, an ecosystem that works. It brings people together. It builds community. And it creates real value.'
He further highlighted how Zaria Court, from design to execution, was a response to the lack of sustained investment in sports infrastructure across African cities.
'In Africa, we have stadiums right in the middle of the city, and they're all destroyed. They were built 50 years ago with no vision. We paint them before competitions, then leave them to rot. We won't accept that anymore.'
With plans to replicate the Zaria Court model in cities like Accra, Lagos, Dakar, Johannesburg, and Nairobi, Kigali's success story is expected to serve as a catalyst for more sports-driven urban development across Africa.
During the event, NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi underscored the economic potential of sports, stressing that nations sidelining it risk falling behind in development.
'Sports should be an economic priority for every country. If you're not putting sports at the centre of your economic growth, then you're already playing from behind," she declared.
Echoing this, Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa League, said the progress seen in Rwanda affirms the possibility of building a world-class professional basketball league on the continent.
'This gives us confidence that we can build one of the best professional basketball leagues in the world, right here in Africa.'
Wycliffe Nyamasege
