Giannis Antetokounmpo, a 29-year-old Nigerian-Greek NBA star, has unveiled a learning centre in Lagos to promote Igbo literacy among children in Nigeria. Giannis plays in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks in the United States. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player unveiled this in a documented YouTube video titled ‘UGO: A Homecoming Story’ Ft. Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the NBA star being accompanied by his mother Veronica Antetokounmpo, who emigrated from Nigeria to Greece 35 years ago. Born in Athens, Greece, on December 6, 1994, his father Charles Antetokounmpo was a staunch soccer fan, and his mother was a high jumper.
The documentary, produced in collaboration with Giannis Foundation CAFF, WhatsApp and nonprofit organisation NABU, began a Lagos hub to promote literacy with Igbo children’s books.
The NBA player said the establishment of the learning hub was inspired by his mother to give Igbo children a supportive atmosphere in which to learn their mother tongue.
Giannis, nicknamed “Greek Freak” born of a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother, said he could not learn both languages because his parents disagreed on who should teach the kids their dialect.
“My whole life. You know, like whenever you go and you meet people in the streets and they ask you where you from and you tell them Nigeria. It’s like, “Okay, what part?”
“You know, growing up, like we always said Yoruba because my dad was proud. But my mom is from Igbo.
“My mum used to secretly teach us how to count the A, B, C in Igbo.
She tried to teach us a lot of things about where she was from and her culture.
