‘Bring me home’: Will Smith wants to come to Nigeria—and LeBron James is right behind him

Nigeria’s entry into the world of elite electric powerboat racing is drawing some of the biggest names in global entertainment and sport — straight to Lagos.

Will Smith and LeBron James have both expressed a desire to visit Nigeria after the country launched Team PRONC, its debut franchise in the $500 million E1 World Championship electric powerboat racing series, according to Business Insider Africa.

Team PRONC co-founder Richie Shittu recalled a memorable encounter with Smith at the E1 Monaco race weekend. “Will Smith was like, ‘Hey, bring me home, guys. I want to come home,'” Shittu told Forbes Africa — a remark that carried particular resonance given Smith’s role playing Nigerian-born Dr Bennet Omalu in the 2015 biographical film Concussion.

LeBron James — himself a celebrity team owner in the E1 series — has also shown interest in visiting Lagos as the championship expands across Africa, with Lagos already on the race calendar and Angola hosting its first E1 event in 2026.

Team PRONC’s founders say the franchise is designed to do more than race. The team intends to use its E1 platform to promote Nigerian tourism, music and fashion, attract international investment and create pathways for African athletes into elite motorsport — positioning Nigeria not merely as a market but as a global destination for sport, culture and commerce.