Football Association Targets 1,000 Nigerian Girls with Sports-Based Education and Career Development Programme
More than 1,000 adolescent girls in five Nigerian locations are set to benefit from a new initiative using sports as a platform to improve access to education, mentorship and employment opportunities.
The programme, known as SHINE, was launched by the Nigeria American Football Association under its Gridiron Gems initiative at an event in Ibadan, Oyo State. It will focus on girls aged 15 to 19 in Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory, particularly those preparing to move from secondary school into higher education, vocational training or the workforce.
NAFA Chief Executive Officer, Babajide Akeredolu, said the initiative was designed to address the difficulties young women encounter when transitioning out of secondary school. He explained that combining sports with practical learning and mentorship would help participants build confidence, develop useful skills and identify pathways to future opportunities.
The programme will operate through five key areas: flag football, mentorship, digital and financial literacy, education and employability support, and leadership development. Participants will also receive guidance and opportunities to build relationships with mentors, gain leadership experience and plan their next steps towards education or employment.
NAFA’s Gridiron Gems Initiative Coordinator, Nancy Damhindi, said the new project builds on the association’s previous work in sports development. She disclosed that NAFA programmes had reached more than 450,000 people across 19 states since 2020, while its secondary school flag football league had engaged over 9,000 students in 278 schools across 18 states.
The initiative has received support from the Agence Française de Développement, the International Olympic Committee through Olympism365, Laureus Sport for Good and Comic Relief. Representatives of the Oyo State Ministry of Education and the International Olympic Committee also welcomed the programme, highlighting the role of sports in developing discipline, teamwork, confidence and leadership among young people.
NAFA said it would assess the programme through indicators including participants’ retention, skills development, mentorship engagement and progression into further education or employment. The organisers hope the intervention will help girls move beyond sporting participation to gain practical opportunities for their future.
