Ruth David, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF’s) Head of Women Football, has expressed her delight at the turnout of eminent persons in Nigeria football at the FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP) seminar.
This is contained in a statement by Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s spokesman and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
David also hailed the quality of presentations at the second module of the FIFA FLDP held in Abuja on Tuesday.
“I’m really very happy at the fact that the resource persons not only honoured our invitation but also did extensive research to make for quality presentations.
“The NFF leadership were there in full force to underscore their total support for the programme,” she said.
NAN reports that FLDP is part of FIFA’s portfolio of women’s football development programmes for the period 2015-2018.
It was 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.
NAN also recalled that David was among 35 women football administrators worldwide selected for the FLDP, and has attended two modules at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick was on hand to declare the seminar open, with some words of challenge to women football players.
The NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko, who chaired the technical session during the first seminar in August, repeated the role with grace and candour.
At the first seminar, FIFA’s Head of Professional Football, Mr James Johnson, delivered a paper on ‘The Concept of FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme’.
Also speakers at the workshop were Hon. Ayo Omidiran, Former NFF Board Member, Mrs Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi, Director of Federations and Elite Athletes department of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, and CAF Match Commissioner, Aisha Falode
They challenged Nigeria women football players to take education as serious as they take the game of football.
Omidiran spoke on ‘Education and Self Confidence among Female Football Players in Nigeria’ while Kulu-Akinyemi dwelt on ‘Job Opportunities Open to Educated Sports Women’.
Falode talked on the possibility of combining football with formal education, while Ukaigwe, a former Coordinator of the U17 Women National Team and the Super Falcons, related her experience as a team official.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi; Chairman of the Benue State Football Association, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen and Chief Onyedinma were among eminent persons in the auditorium.
Apart from the players of the Super Falcons and the Falconets, there were also players of NWFL clubs Nasarawa Amazons, Capital City Doves and State House Queens, as well as secondary school girls from within the FCT. (NAN)
