Masai Ujiri, who has invested in basketball and founded the Giants of Africa festival that brings together and empowers African youth, has been appointed to the group that supports the United Nations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He was appointed to this position by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on August 28, 2025. Upon receiving the role, Ujiri who has dedicated himself to advancing African youth by nurturing their talents said that sports not only unite people but also break down barriers, build confidence, and transform lives. “Joining the SDG Advocates i

Masai Ujiri, who has invested in basketball and founded the Giants of Africa festival that brings together and empowers African youth, has been appointed to the group that supports the United Nations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He was appointed to this position by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on August 28, 2025. Upon receiving the role, Ujiri who has dedicated himself to advancing African youth by nurturing their talents said that sports not only unite people but also break down barriers, build confidence, and transform lives. “Joining the SDG Advocates is a tremendous honor, and I’m excited to be part of a global movement that empowers youth and drives meaningful change around the world,” Ujiri said in a press release. Ujiri joins a group tasked with helping the UN achieve the SDGs, which is chaired by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. He will work alongside other global figures including Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar, Massimo Bottura, founder of Food for Soul, fashion designer and philanthropist Diane von Furstenberg, Monica Geingos, head of the One Economy Foundation, and Muniba Mazari, an advocate for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. The group also includes Hindou Ibrahim, a climate activist; Graça Machel, founder of the Graça Machel Trust; Dia Mirza, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador; Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network at Columbia University; Lilly Singh, founder of the Unicorn Island Fund; Brad Smith of Microsoft; and Hamdi Ulukaya, a strong advocate for refugees. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 global targets established by the United Nations in 2015 to guide development efforts worldwide through 2030. They replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were in place from 2000 to 2015. The SDGs aim to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote good health and well-being, ensure quality education for all, achieve gender equality, guarantee access to clean water and sanitation, expand affordable and clean energy, foster decent work and sustainable economic growth, strengthen industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and reduce inequalities within and among countries.

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