The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s football administration with the commencement of a three-day FIFA capacity-building workshop for women football administrators in Abuja.
Declaring the workshop open on Friday, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the federation would continue to support initiatives that empower women and strengthen their leadership roles in football. He urged participants to maximise the programme by applying the knowledge gained to improve football administration across the country.
Speaking on behalf of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Sanusi said women empowerment remains a key priority of the current NFF leadership, adding that capacity development is essential to the growth of the women’s game in Nigeria.
“We are delighted to have FIFA representatives and other resource persons here to help improve the capacity of our women football administrators. The present NFF administration is passionate about women empowerment,” he said.
Sanusi described the workshop as timely and challenged participants to translate the lessons into practical leadership and professionalism.
“You must ensure that whatever you learn here is translated into reality. It should reflect in how you conduct yourselves and how you lead in football administration,” he said.
He highlighted previous initiatives undertaken by the federation, including CAF D and CAF C coaching courses exclusively for women, as well as the recent WAFU B Women Administrators’ Programme.
The FIFA-facilitated workshop is designed to equip participants with modern skills in governance, competition management, marketing and women’s football development. It forms part of FIFA’s broader efforts to strengthen the capacity of its member associations to expand women’s football.
Among those present at the opening ceremony were NFF Director of Media and Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; Director of Competitions and workshop coordinator, Ms Ruth David; and Deputy Head of Member Associations, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar.
The workshop features FIFA Women’s Technical Experts Thubaelihle Sibanda and Candy Setlhoko, alongside Ayisat Falode, Professor Mariam Suleiman, Dr Anthonia Uwa and Mohammed Ameenu as resource persons.
Participants include representatives of the Nigeria Women Premier League, the women secretaries of the Nasarawa, Lagos and Yobe State Football Associations, Dr Maryam Nasko of the National Institute for Sports, and 15 members of NFF staff.
(The Sun)