Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has praised FAME Foundation’s 9th International Women’s Day Football Tournament, saying it promotes women’s empowerment and social change through sports.
She noted that the gender space in Nigeria had witnessed significant domestic investment and prioritisation under the current administration.
Suleiman-Ibrahim disclosed in Abuja, during an official kicking off the 2026 Women’s Day Football Tournament organised by the foundation, she praised Nigerian women for their resilience and contributions to national development.
The minister also highlighted the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to advancing women’s issues, noting that the current administration has placed women, children and family development at the centre of its governance agenda.
She said: “I would like to start by commending, applauding and congratulating the FAME Foundation on the 9th edition of the International Women’s Day Football Tournament. Nigerian women are phenomenal.
“They are energetic, smart and resilient, and we must engage them from every angle. Mr. President has made issues concerning women a central part of his administration. This is unprecedented and we must thank and applaud him for it.“
Suleiman-Ibrahim assured that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs would continue to collaborate with organisations such as FAME Foundation to ensure that women’s creativity, innovation and leadership are properly supported.
Encouraging participants at the tournament, the minister applauded the teams for turning out and showing determination, adding that, “It is very important to show up first before you can win, and I see winners in all of them. When I asked them if they think they will win, they all said yes, and I am sure they will give their best.”
She further emphasised the importance of sports as a tool for empowerment and national unity, noting that Nigeria has continued to record impressive achievements in international competitions.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Rinsola Abiola, said sports remains a vital tool for empowering women.
She explained that empowerment can also be achieved through education, financial inclusion, gender-responsive budgeting, grants and loans that enable women to access funding for development initiatives.
According to her, legal protections and leadership development programmes that provide mentorship and capacity building are also essential in encouraging women to take active roles in nation building.
She said: “It is also beautiful to see women being active. Staying active is important for health and wellbeing. Nigeria is a major exporter of sporting talent to the world, many of whom are women.”
Abiola added that it was encouraging to see many young women developing their talents and contributing to sports development and gender empowerment in the country.
She also commended the FAME Foundation and its leadership for organising the tournament and creating opportunities for women to participate in sports.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of the FAME Foundation, Aderonke Atoyebi, said the competition has grown significantly since its inception.
Atoyebi described sports as one of the strongest unifying forces in Nigeria, noting that national sporting events often transcend religious, ethnic and regional differences.
Atoyebi said: “This is the ninth edition of the tournament. We started it at the National Stadium and have continued to organise it every year with thousands of participants.
“Nigeria is a heterogeneous country, and one of the few things that unites us is sports. Whenever our national teams are playing, nobody cares about religion, tribe or ethnicity.”
According to her, the tournament brings together women from different classes, religions and ethnic backgrounds to build friendships and promote unity, inclusion and sisterhood.
She explained that the competition is strictly for amateur players to ensure inclusiveness and enjoyment, adding that teams that previously attempted to field professional players were disqualified.
Atoyebi also emphasised the importance of collaboration between civil society organisations and government institutions in advancing policies that benefit citizens.
She added, “Civil society organisations cannot work in isolation. Our role is to support policies, collaborate with the government in implementing programmes and also hold institutions accountable.”