Gbemisola Abudu is a Nigerian-American sports executive who led NBA Nigeria’s strategic growth and youth engagement initiatives.
Gbemisola Abudu made history in 2022 when she was appointed Vice President of NBA Africa and the first-ever Country Head of NBA Nigeria. Born in California and raised in Lagos with roots in Abeokuta, Abudu has always straddled different worlds, and that global upbringing shaped her career path. She studied Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Southern California, then earned an MBA from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.
Before joining the NBA, Abudu built a diverse career across industries, starting in luxury brand management and corporate strategy. She held leadership roles at international companies including Louis Vuitton, The Walt Disney Company, and The Clorox Company, where she specialised in business development, marketing, and operations.
In 2018, Abudu founded BMGA Enterprise Limited, an educational and advisory firm focused on professional development for women and young professionals in emerging markets. Through the BMGA Fellows Program, she has trained over 150 young women from Africa and Asia in leadership, critical thinking, and workplace readiness, with participants from over 30 countries.
In 2023, the businesswoman also launched the Triple Double Accelerator to support African startups, particularly those at the intersection of sports, media, and technology. She aimed to address the funding and scaling challenges many African entrepreneurs face.
Abudu’s NBA impact
Gbemisola Abudu joined the NBA with a mandate to establish a strong presence for the league in Nigeria, drive local partnerships, grow fan engagement, and build a sustainable basketball ecosystem. Thus, she officially opened the NBA Nigeria office in Lagos and led several grassroots development efforts, including building community basketball courts and expanding youth training programs. She also worked closely with the Basketball Africa League (BAL) to strengthen Nigeria’s connection to continental basketball initiatives.
One of her most high-profile contributions came in February 2023, when she helped produce the NBA All-Star Game halftime show featuring Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Tems, and Rema. It marked the first time Afrobeats was showcased on a major global sports stage. The performance was watched by millions and served as a cultural statement about Africa’s growing influence in sports and entertainment.
In her role at NBA Africa, Abudu pushed for more investments in infrastructure, community engagement, and gender inclusion in sports. Throughout her career, Gbemisola Abudu has consistently believed that sports can be a tool for cultural diplomacy, economic development, and social change.
After months of quiet transition, she has officially ended her time at NBA Nigeria. Reflecting on the journey, she described it as more than a job—a calling. From grassroots to global impact, she helped build cultural relevance and community trust in a complex market.
By the time she left the NBA (Nigeria), she had contributed significantly to shaping a more vibrant and structured basketball ecosystem in Nigeria. She opened doors for future generations, particularly young women, to envision themselves in positions of influence both on and off the court.
While Abudu did not announce her next move, she emphasised that her focus would remain on leadership development, business strategy, and investing in African talent. More so, her work with BMGA and the accelerator program continues, and she remains active in mentorship and policy discussions around youth empowerment and gender equity.
