Francis Ngannou Quotes

I plan with the BBC African Player of the Year award to become an agent of hope and positive change in the lives of the millions of African youths who have lost hope and are deprived.

In Kenya, I met wonderful girls; girls who wanted to help their communities. I was with them in their school, listening to their dreams. They still have hope. They want to be doctor and teachers and engineers.

To see old faces, to give back to the kids and let them know I come from these same schools and streets, and they can make it out, too, that's my biggest message to them.

I think we need to do as much as we can to give back to these young kids growing up. I think we've done a pretty decent job so far.

The goal of my Foundation is to give young people a chance to better themselves and establish a base for a successful future.

Now that Obama's president, it changes inner-city youths. They can now not just dream to be Lil Waynes and 50 Cents, but they can now dream to be Obamas.

I always say kids are the future and if we can inspire them, the world will be a much better place.

Giants of Africa holds such a special place in my heart. It's not just another non-profit organization - this is personal. What started as a dream to give back to the country that raised me has since blossomed into an intercontinental mission to uplift youth across the diaspora, and shed light on the greatest part of Africa: its people.

Young people are our future, and I always want to help them to grow.

When I look back to being a 10-year-old girl, I never could have dreamt of having this pathway. I feel very fortunate and proud, but I know I have to be part of creating new opportunities for the youth coming through.

When I started Giants of Africa, I envisioned providing African youth access to the game and empowering them to achieve their greatest potential.

The youth is the future, and anything I can do to give to them, I'll do it.

I look at tennis as a bit of a platform to hopefully touch lives and encourage people.

My mission is to let black kids know that their dreams can happen.

I'm a Prince of Wales Trust ambassador, so I'm all about giving youth an education, a voice and a chance to not take the wrong road.

'Million Dollar Arm' touches on many of the Safe At Home Foundation's core values, such as children, teamwork and family.

I don't think I'm as educated as Whoopi, so I'm lifting myself to her level. But you know, our view of the world, our view of what we can do, our sense of what it means to be here, are similar.

I do feel I have a responsibility to the youths. For real.

I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have my very own school - no way. And I had no idea I'd be coaching girls. It's wild.

I think that my peers deserve more than products to buy wrapped up in advertising. We need ideas to share and causes to believe in - opportunities to lead and teach.

Great minds are to make others great. Their superiority is to be used, not to break the multitude to intellectual vassalage, not to establish over them a spiritual tyranny, but to rouse them from lethargy, and to aid them to judge for themselves.

I'm thrilled to continue my partnership with U by Kotex for Generation Know while helping to empower girls. I've always been a motivational resource for my younger sisters and hope I can positively impact and inspire other young girls too.

There is nothing I'm any more passionate than empowering the next generation.

I never thought I would be in a position like this, where my words and experiences are now inspiring others to follow suit. It's challenging at times, but I can only look forward to the future of business and philanthropy.

Service is an opportunity for young women to really empower themselves.