Benny Bonsu: Africa's Sporting Renaissance and Empowering Women in Sports

15/06/2023 1h 0min Temporada 4 Episodio 3
Benny Bonsu: Africa's Sporting Renaissance and Empowering Women in Sports

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode, we are joined by Benny Bonsu, an award-winning industry leader and Director of Daily Content at Olympic Channel Services. Benny shares her remarkable journey from a career in education to becoming a prominent figure in sports journalism, mainly focusing on women's sports. Her diverse experiences and passion for Africa's development make for a thought-provoking discussion at the intersection of sports, women's empowerment and continental transformation. Benny takes us back to her childhood in Ghana and her family's move to the UK. Despite beginning her career in education as a teacher and headteacher, Benny always had a deep passion for sports from a young age coming from a family of talented athletes.Combining her passion for sports and writing, she began contributing to sports platforms. A chance encounter with an executive producer from the BBC led her to consider a career in front of the camera. Benny discusses the challenges women of colour face in the UK media and expands on her experiences as a woman of colour breaking barriers in the industry.Isaac and Benny dive into the importance of developing sports in Africa, particularly basketball, and the need for greater support for women in sports. Benny shares her personal experiences and involvement in supporting the growth of basketball in Africa, highlighting initiatives like NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). She emphasises the cultural significance of basketball on the continent and the strong talent pool present in Africa.While acknowledging the achievements of the BAL and individual efforts to develop women's basketball, Benny emphasises the need for more support and investment in women's sports in Africa. She draws attention to successful examples, such as England's strategic investment in women's football, leading to significant growth and audience engagement.Benny discusses the importance of implementing change and intentionally developing sports programs and facilities. She shares her observations from Senegal and how other African countries can be intentional in sports infrastructure development. Benny envisions hosting international events in Africa, promoting year-round economic growth through sports and hopes to lead Ghana's Ministry of Sports.Links and Resources:Find Benny Bonsu on LinkedInThis podcast is produced by Nexa MediaDo you have a question for our hosts, email us at [email protected] the podcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedInWatch on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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