In a bid to address the shortage of young talents, particularly female players in baseball and softball, the Women of Glory Foundation (WGF), in collaboration with the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NBSF), on Friday, organised a flag-off match at the Baseball Park of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The exhibition match featured the Women of Glory Foundation team and the Nigeria Softball Junior Team, and marked the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at encouraging greater participation by Nigerian teenage girls in baseball and softball.
According to the organisers, the initiative seeks to create opportunities for young girls to embrace the sport, which promotes discipline, teamwork, leadership and personal development.
Speaking at the event, the founder of WGF, Nneka Nzewi, described the partnership as a strategic investment in the future of young Nigerian girls.
“We believe every girl deserves the opportunity to discover her potential and pursue her dreams regardless of societal limitations.
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“Through this partnership with EXSPORT, we are creating a platform where young girls can develop their talents, build confidence, and access educational opportunities through sports,” Nzewi said.
Also speaking, President of the Foundation, Lucy Nwajide Obi, emphasised the importance of using sports as a tool for empowerment and social development.
She said, “Sports remain one of the most effective platforms for empowering young women. This initiative is not only about baseball and softball; it is about building character, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging teamwork, and preparing the next generation of female leaders.
“We are committed to ensuring that more girls participate and excel in sports.”
On the scholarship initiative, the CEO and Founder of EXSPORT, Emeka Enyadike, expressed confidence that the programme would motivate young athletes to strive for excellence.
“Our commitment goes beyond supporting sports development. We want to provide tangible opportunities that reward hard work, dedication, and talent.
“Through these scholarship opportunities, we hope to inspire young athletes to pursue both academic and sporting excellence while contributing positively to society,” Enyadike said.
For the participating teenagers, the initiative represents a rare opportunity to showcase their talents and pursue their dreams through sports development programmes and scholarship opportunities.
With the ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation already yielding positive results, stakeholders expressed optimism that partnerships such as this will further accelerate the growth and development of baseball and softball in Abuja and across Nigeria.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Foundation and EXSPORT.
The agreement focuses on providing scholarship opportunities for outstanding players, thereby creating pathways for educational and sporting advancement.
Since its reintroduction in Nigeria in 1989, baseball has faced challenges in attracting young talents due to limited facilities, inadequate funding, and societal biases, especially against female participation.
