Glo-Sponsored African Voices Hosts NBA Legend Olajuwon

Basketball enthusiasts are set for an inspiring encounter with Nigerian-born NBA great, Hakeem Olajuwon, as he takes the spotlight on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom. The legendary centre will share insights into his remarkable rise from Lagos to the pinnacle of professional basketball during an interview with the programme’s anchor, Larry Madowo.

His journey to basketball greatness is marked by remarkable milestones, including 12 NBA All-Star appearances and two championship titles with the Houston Rockets. Fondly known as “The Dream”, Olajuwon will also discuss the experiences and defining moments that shaped his career and established his place among the sport’s all-time greats.

Born in Lagos on January 21, 1963, Olajuwon began playing basketball in 1978 at Muslim Teachers’ College, Lagos, before relocating to the United States in the early 1980s. He subsequently joined the University of Houston basketball team, the Cougars, where he laid the foundation for his illustrious professional career.

His professional breakthrough came in 1984 when the Houston Rockets selected him as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, a historic selection that also featured basketball greats such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton.

Beyond his achievements at club level, Olajuwon represented the United States at the 1996 Olympic Games, winning a gold medal as part of the national basketball team. His outstanding contributions to the sport earned him a place among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, as well as induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.

Further recognition came in October 2021 when he was named among the distinguished players on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He retired as the league’s all-time leader in blocked shots, with 3,830, and remains one of only four players in NBA history to have recorded a quadruple-double. He also holds the record for the most 5×5 games, with six career performances in which he registered at least five points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Among his numerous individual honours are two NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, the 1994 NBA Most Valuable Player award and two NBA Finals MVP awards in 1994 and 1995. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and centres of all time, Olajuwon’s influence continues to resonate with generations of players in the sport.

The programme will air this Saturday on DStv Channel 401 at 8.30 a.m. and 12 midnight, West African Time. Further broadcasts are scheduled for Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Monday at 4 a.m. and 6.45 p.m.; and Tuesday at 6.45 p.m. The repeat schedule continues the following weekend on Saturday at 12 midnight and 8.30 a.m., Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Monday at 4 a.m.