BOITUMELO RANTAO
DIKEMBE Mutombo, one of Africa’s greatest basketball legends, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) global ambassadors is ploughing back to the community that raised him.
Mutombo has unveiled his plans to build a new school in his ancestral village, Kasai-Oriental Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In honour of the NBA Hall of Famer’s late father, who served as an educator for 38 years before his retirement, the school will be named the Samuel Mutombo Institute of Science and Entrepreneurship.
Mutombo, an active figure in development of several communities within the DRC and around the world, has brought his foundation to Mbuji Mayi, the DRC’s third largest city.
The Samuel Mutombo Institute of Science and Entrepreneurship is scheduled to open on September 21.
“Today was very emotional for me and my family. I know that my late father, Samuel Mutombo, will be proud today for the groundbreaking of the new school in his ancestral village, Kasai Province.The school is an investment in these deserving children (and) is an investment in their families, communities, the country as well as their futures. Just like my father, I believe that educated boys and girls can grow up to become great leaders, scholars, economists, physicians, entrepreneurs and that one day my country will no longer be considered developed. It will be developed,” Mutumbo said.
He was unable to attend the groundbreaking ceremony because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Dikembe Mutombo with Nelson Mandela 
Samuel Mutombo Institute Of Science ‘s groundbreaking is on sunday 26th at 1030am in Mbuji Mayi. Congo ?? pic.twitter.com/Gm32je01Ee
— Dikembe Mutombo (@officialmutombo) July 25, 2020
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