The one –day seminar on FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme organized by the Nigeria Football Federation drew heavyweights in administration as well as football players and other stakeholders to the Agura Hotel, Abuja on Thursday.
FIFA Head of Professional Football, Mr. James Johnson was among a strong cast that included NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman, Shehu Dikko, Members of NFF Executive Committee Ibrahim Gusau and Babagana Kalli and the full complement of NFF Management led by General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
There were also academicians, women football club owners and players of the U17 Women National Team, as well as players and officials of Abuja –based Capital City Doves and State House Queens football clubs.
In his welcome remarks, Sanusi lauded the idea behind the FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme, saying the time is more than ripe for women to be handed greater roles in administration of football worldwide. The FLDP is part of FIFA’s portfolio of women’s football development programmes for the period 2015-2018. Launched in 2015 to ensure that there are female role models and women at decision –making levels in football, the FLDP aims to identify, support and develop strong female leaders in sport, while advocating for women to access senior decision –making positions globally.
NFF’s Head of Women Football, Ruth David, who is one of 36 persons selected worldwide for the programme, said in her presentation: “Education is the biggest weapon to success and greatness in whatever you want to achieve in life. Education does not only equip one intellectually, it also prepares you to relate and behave well in the society.” She adduced this as reason for the choice of ‘Education for Character Moulding and Career Enhancement among Female Football Players in Nigeria’ as her Accelerator Project.
Johnson, who acknowledged the pedigree of Nigeria in women’s football, delved into the concept behind the programme, explaining that women have proven in several areas that if given the opportunity, they can excel at high levels of administration.
Chairman of the occasion, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the present NFF Executive Committee is committed to paying greater attention to the women’s game as well as encouraging more women to take up roles in administration.
Professor (Mrs) Funke Suleiman, of the Department of Physical and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria spoke on ‘Education As a Tool For Enhancing the Career of Female Football Players in Nigeria,’ while Chief (Mrs) Dilichukwu Onyedinma, a former Member of the NFF Executive Committee and currently acting Director of Sports, Federal Capital Territory, delved into ‘Education for Character Moulding Among Female Football Players in Nigeria.’
