The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has launched an initiative aimed at reforming, rehabilitating, and reintegrating young girls in correctional centers across the country.
The initiative which was received by the Honorable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. During a presentation to the Minister and the Ministry’s management staff in Abuja on Tuesday, NFF Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the Women’s Football Sub-Committee, Madam Aisha Falode, outlined the initiative.
The Minister praised the NFF for its noble concept and promised to set mechanisms in motion to achieve the initiative’s objectives. “I am hugely impressed by this presentation, which shows clearly that the NFF is aware of its responsibilities to the community, aside from preparing our National Teams for matches and tournaments. The reason why there is always an upshoot in the number of persons in correctional centres is that when they are released, they have nowhere to go other than that place from where they ended up in the centre. I see this project as filling that gap for them, giving them hope and the means by which to bring that hope to reality.
“A ‘correctional centre’ is different from a ‘prison’. While the former is a place of correction, reformation and rebirth, a prison is a place of incarceration. Those in correctional centres should have the opportunity to get reformed and reintegrated back into the society. The NFF has wowed me with this. Sport is not just a means of entertainment; it is the biggest instrument that can bridge the gap between the powerful and the vulnerable.”
NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau informed the Minister that the Federation is committed to serving the community beyond organizing football matches and has chosen to address the increasing number of girls in correctional centers as its first initiative.
“We are primed to use the instrumentality of football to collaborate with relevant agencies and ministries to activate processes for the reform and rehabilitation of these young ladies, so that they can be reintegrated into the society, and be useful to themselves and the society.
“The NFF is ready and willing to go the whole distance on this project. We will work with relevant agencies and ministries, and network with organisations and foundations to arrange vocational training for these girls in order that they will have a future.”
Falode’s presentation, titled “FootballGood-Naija; EmpowerHer,” highlighted the increasing number of young women in correctional centers across the country, including those awaiting trial and those already convicted. The initiative aligns with the Confederation of African Football’s ‘Gender Empowerment’ program, which has seen pilot programs in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Liberia.
Objectives of the initiative include supporting better reintegration prospects post-release, improving physical and mental well-being, enhancing life skills and self-esteem, fostering a culture of sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork, identifying and developing football refereeing and coaching potentials, and using football as a tool for education, skill-building, and leadership development among young people.
Joining the Minister were the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Aishetu Ndayako; Director of Press, Ozoya Imohimi; Director of Joint Services Department, Atinuke Ajiboye; and Director of Legal Services, Omofese Era.
The NFF delegation included Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Director of Legal Services, Okey Obi; Director of Technical, Augustine Eguavoen; Director of Competitions, Ruth David and Chief Protocol Officer, Emmanuel Ayanbunmi.
