NFF will always support programmes that enhance the capacity of women in football-Sanusi  

General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi MON, on Friday in Abuja declared open the FIFA capacity-building workshop for women football administrators in Nigeria, assuring that the present NFF administration will not cease to support programmes that seek to enhance the capacity of women in football or advance the cause of the girl-child.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sanusi conveyed the goodwill message of the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau MON, while urging the participants to remain focused and ensure that lessons from the programme are translated into practical action within the football space.  He noted that women’s 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’s football administrators. The present NFF administration, headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau MON, is very passionate about the issue of women empowerment.”

The NFF scribe described the workshop as timely and important, stressing that the Federation will continue to back initiatives aimed at developing women in football administration. He reminded participants that impact will be measured by how they apply what they learn at the three-day programme. “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.”

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.

At the opening as well were NFF Director of Media and Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; Director of Competitions, Ms Ruth David (coordinator of the workshop) and Alh. Salisu Abubakar (Deputy Head of Member Associations).

Resource persons are FIFA Women’s Technical Experts Thubaelihle Sibanda and Candy Setlhoko, Ms Ayishat Falode, Professor Mariam Suleiman, Dr Anthonia Uwa and Mr Mohammed Ameenu. Participants include representatives of the Nigeria Women Premier League; the three women Secretaries of State Football Associations (Nasarawa, Lagos and Yobe States); Dr Maryam Nasko of the National Institute for Sports; and 15 members of Staff of the NFF.