…sports unifies, strengthens relationships – Atoyebi

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, yesterday, hailed FAME Foundation over efforts to empower women and girls through football.

Suleiman-Ibrahim made the commendation at the 9th edition of the foundation’s International Women’s Day football tournament in Abuja, where she performed the ceremonial kickoff.

The Minister in her remarks noted that over the years Nigerian women has remained exceptional and distinguished in many areas of endeavour locally and internationally including, sports, bringing honour, recognition and pride to Nigeria by their sterling performances, specifically mentioning the notable achievements and accomplishments recorded by the Super Falcons, Falconets, D’Tigress, wrestlers inclusion Olympians who have made Nigeria to excel in international sports tournaments, and adding that it had served as strength and courage to Nigerian women and the nation at large.

She said: “I congratulate FAME Foundation on the successful hosting of the ninth edition of the International Women’s Day football tournament. Nigerian women are phenomenal — energetic, intelligent and resilient. We must continue to create opportunities for them across different sectors.”

Meanwhile , she reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women, particularly in sports and the digital economy, describing both sectors as important pathways to leadership and national development.

In another remarks, the Director-General, DG, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, CLTC, Rinsola Abiola, acknowledged ad appreciated FAME Foundation’s initiative on using sports to give a voice and sense of belonging to women as part of its International Women’s Day activities.

Abiola while speaking on the empowerment the Foundation has given to Nigerian women, urged other Nongovernmental organizations to emulate the initiative so they can reach out to many women and girls with critical empowerment initiatives that would change their narrative.

“Beyond sports, women’s empowerment should also be driven through education, access to finance, gender-responsive budgeting, and targeted grants and loan schemes designed to support women entrepreneurs”, she said.

Earlier, the Executive Director, FAME Foundation, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, explained the essence of choosing football, which according to Atoyebi was to serve as a tool for advocacy, as football remains a major unifying sport in Nigeria due to the love most Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic group, religion and region, and also sports strengthens relationships among Nigerian women.

“Nigeria is a heterogeneous country, but sports unite us. Whenever any of our national teams are playing, nobody cares about religion, tribe or ethnicity. That is why we chose football as a tool to promote unity and sisterhood among women”, she said.