Stakeholders Call for development of Women's Football in Nigeria

Ekiti Women's football Symposium

GRASSROOTS Stakeholders Call for development of Women's Football in Nigeria

Hassan Abdulsalam 20:02 - 25.04.2023

The Stakeholders delivered a lecture on the development of women's football in Ekiti and Nigeria at a symposium.

Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, Aisha Falode, Super Falcons media officer, Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, Ms. Aderonke Bello, Sports For Development enthusiast, Gender Rights advocate, and Executive Director, FAME Foundation have called for the development of women's football.

Other speakers at the event were Mrs. Peju Babafemi, the former Ekiti State Head of Service, and Mrs. Faseluka, the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.

They delivered a lecture at the maiden edition of the Ekiti FA Women's Football Symposium which was the first of its kind since the creation of the state in 1996 and bring experts in women's sports together.

Ekiti Women's football Symposium
Women at the Ekiti Women's football Symposium

Head of Media, the Nigeria Women Senior National team, The Super Falcons, Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu said the role Nigeria played in the development of women's football can not be over-emphasized.

The former CAF Media Committee Member added there should be a proper structure for women's football at the grassroots.

"It is most important for me to speak about Women's Football in Nigeria. The story of Women's Football in Africa cannot be told without the role played by Nigeria as a country, from being the pioneers to encouraging other women to take up the game in Africa and also setting the pace and getting our young girls involved in playing the game.

Ekiti Women's football Symposium
Ekiti Women's football Symposium

"It is not a coincidence that we are having these kind of symposium in a year that the best in Women's Football in the world, will be gathered in Australia & New Zealand.

"It is important for me to also note that the Super Falcons players started from home before travelling abroad to ply their trade across the world.

"Football cannot grow, if we do not have the structure, the professionalism from the grassroot, as Ekiti is showing the example as how to get our young girls the proper foundation to begin to climb to that professional change in their career.

"FIFA has deliberately and intentionally set aside what they call intervention and development fund for Women's football, such that talents from the grassroots can be harnessed."

Ekiti Women's football Symposium
Ekiti Women's football Symposium

However, the Chairman of the Ekiti Football Association, Bayo Olalenge, noted that the association has started to prioritize the development of the Women's game in its various aspects, such as management, administration, Refereeing, and organization.

Tags: