The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has assured its commitment to support programmes that seek to enhance the capacity of women in football or advance the cause of the girl-child.
NFF general secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, made the pledge on Friday in Abuja while declaring open the FIFA capacity-building workshop for women football administrators in Nigeria.
The NFF scribe urged the participants to remain focused and ensure that lessons from the programme are translated into practical action within the football space, noting that women empowerment and elevation remain priorities for the current NFF leadership.
“Let me start by acknowledging the FIFA representatives who are here, as well as other resource persons including my teacher, Professor Mariam Suleiman of the Ahmadu Bello University, and the Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Ms Aisha Falode.
“We are very delighted to have all of you here to help improve the capacity of our women football administrators. The present NFF administration headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau MON is very passionate about the issue of women empowerment,” Sanusi stated.
While describing the workshop as timely and important, he said the Federation will continue to back initiatives aimed at developing women in football administration and reminded participants that impact will be measured by how they apply what they learn at the three-day programme.
He added, “You must ensure that whatever you learn here is translated to reality. How do you translate it? It is in the way and manner you comport yourself in society, and how you lead in administration. We have had several women’s programmes, ranging from the CAF D Coaching Course to the CAF C-License course (exclusively for women), to the recent WAFU B Women Administrators’ program.”
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The three-day workshop, facilitated by FIFA, is designed to equip women administrators with modern tools for governance, competition management, marketing, and the development of the women’s game in Nigeria. It is part of FIFA’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of member associations to grow women’s football at all levels.
Also at the opening ceremony were NFF Director of Media and Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David (coordinator of the workshop); and Alhaji Salisu Abubakar (deputy head of member associations).
