By Aliyu Oyewole
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called for a comprehensive rebuilding of women’s football in Nigeria, beginning with renewed investment in grassroots development.
Omidiran made the call on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Football Tournament held at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Abuja. The tournament opened with defending champions AMAC recording a convincing 7-0 victory over Gwagwalada.
The FCC Chairman said Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil should serve as a wake-up call for football stakeholders to reassess the country’s women’s football development structure.
“This is the time for us to rebuild women’s football in Nigeria. We need to go back to the grassroots and invest properly in the development of our girls,” Omidiran said.
According to her, rebuilding the women’s game requires more than temporary interventions, stressing that Nigeria needs a coordinated developmental strategy capable of identifying talents at an early age and providing them with quality coaching, facilities, regular competitions and clear pathways to professional football.
The former Executive Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, who served between 2002 and 2006, appealed to Nigerians to remain calm while football authorities and other stakeholders deliberate on the necessary steps to address the challenges confronting the women’s game.
“We need proper investment and a clear developmental strategy. We have to start from the grassroots, discover these girls early, nurture them and give them the right environment to grow,” she said.
Omidiran also warned against relying solely on the successes recorded by previous generations, insisting that the country must establish a sustainable system capable of consistently producing quality players for the national teams and professional clubs.
“We must use this moment to rebuild. We cannot continue to rely only on the successes of the past. We need to build a system that will continuously produce talents for our national teams and professional clubs,” she added.
Speaking on the FCT Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament, the FCC boss expressed delight at seeing young girls participate in organised competitive football, describing grassroots competitions as critical to the future development of the women’s game.
“I am deeply happy seeing these girls here today. This is exactly where the rebuilding has to start. When you see young girls playing football, developing their confidence and showcasing their talents, you know that the future can be better,” she said.
The two-time Chairman of the Women’s Football Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation also commended Dr. Pat Ajuma Ayegba, an FCT FA Board Member and initiator of the Inter-Area Council competition, for her consistency, investment and commitment to grassroots women’s football development.
Omidiran said Ayegba’s initiative aligns with her own commitment to using sports as a platform to empower girls and young women, particularly through the Girls Play Sports Initiative, which she launched in 2024.
“I want to commend Dr. Pat Ayegba for her consistency, her investment and the positive impact she continues to make in the lives of these girls at the grassroots,” Omidiran said.
She stressed that sustainable development of women’s football cannot be achieved without deliberate investment in the girl child.
“You cannot develop women’s football without investing in the girl child. We need more people who are willing to put their resources, time and energy into creating opportunities for these young girls,” she said.
Reflecting on the Girls Play Sports Initiative, Omidiran said the programme had previously brought together 64 teams across different regions and zones of the country, with the final held in Abuja.
The 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament will run from August 21 to September 5, 2026, featuring all six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada are drawn in Group A, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali make up Group B.
