The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed its full support for the Girls Play Sports Football Tournament, an initiative birthed by the Honorable Ayo Omidiran and organized under the auspices of the Ayo Omidiran Foundation.
During a courtesy call by the Tournament’s Organising Committee to the NFF Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Secretary General Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, representing NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, stressed the significance of the tournament.
Dr. Sanusi stated, “The NFF, under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, is committed to making it mandatory for all Premiership clubs to establish women’s football teams. This initiative comes at the right time for the advancement of women’s football in Nigeria and aligns with its FIFA-funded Talent Development Scheme.”
While hailing Honorable Omidiran on the initiative, the NFF scribe emphasized the importance of perseverance despite criticism, noting, “You’ll face opposition when you start promoting women’s football, but you have to remain focused. Critics may have the loudest voices, but the silent supporters are many. Your next step is to work closely with the NFF Technical Department to ensure the success of this program.”
Honorable Omidiran, CEO and Founder of the Ayomidiran Foundation, expressed her gratitude to the NFF for their support, admitting that, “Organizing a competition like this would not be complete without the official recognition and backing of the NFF. The Ayomidiran Foundation has always been dedicated to the development of women, particularly through sports. Football has opened many doors for young girls, and it is essential to provide them with opportunities to excel.”
She continued, “We aim to identify and nurture talent at the grassroots level. With technical teams at every center, we can spot potential and guide these girls towards professional careers. Our project, GIRLS PLAY SPORTS, starts with football, but we plan to expand into other sports like athletics. Our ultimate goal is to enable girls to pursue sports as a means of livelihood, contributing to the pool of professional players.”
The two-time House of Representatives member also emphasized the social and economic impacts of the event, saying, “This tournament is not just about sports; it aims to take girls off the streets and away from social vices, including violence.
“Many of our girls playing football internationally are now the breadwinners for their families. We want to encourage more girls to see sports as a viable career path. By the end of this tournament, we hope to have opened new opportunities for many young girls.”
The Girls Play Sports Football Tournament promises to be a significant step towards the development of women’s football in Nigeria, with the strong backing of the NFF and the passion of the organizers.
