NOC Targets 100 Lagos Girls With Sports Empowerment

The Nigeria Olympic Committee Women Commission plans to gather over 100 young girls from Lagos secondary schools on Saturday, October 10, at the OlympAfrica Centre in Amuwo-Odofin. This event, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child, carries the theme "Her Voice, Her Future: Investing in Girls Through Sports and Education." The full-day program aims to engage the schoolgirls, young female athletes, coaches, and stakeholders from various sectors such as sports, education, and advocacy.

Activities will include presentations from women leaders in education, sports, and digital technology, mentorship sessions, sporting events, and the launch of the "Her Voice" pledge. The Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Habu Gumel, emphasized that the initiative seeks to highlight the rights of young females by utilizing sports and education for empowerment, leadership development, and personal growth.

Gumel stated, "When you invest in a girl's education and empower her through sports, you are not only educating one girl; you are giving her a voice to shape her own future. Our theme 'Her Voice, Her Future' is a call to replace child marriage with classrooms and playgrounds where girls can learn, lead, and thrive."

This event is part of the Commission's 2026 annual program, which also includes a Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for journalists scheduled from October 22 to 24 in Abuja. Organizers believe that the Lagos program will encourage school retention through sports, promote digital technology as an empowerment tool, and challenge the limiting narratives surrounding the girl child.

The recently renovated Olympic Sports Complex at Amuwo-Odofin is anticipated to host these activities, where the girls will be encouraged to build confidence, skills, and leadership capacity.