By Grace Abe
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mrs Hulayat Omidiran, has called for rebuilding Nigeria’s women’s football through increased grassroots investment.
Omidiran made the call on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Football Tournament.
The tournament began at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Abuja, featuring young female footballers from the Federal Capital Territory.
Omidiran said Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the next Women’s World Cup should prompt stakeholders to reassess women’s football development.
She said the situation should serve as a wake-up call to return to the fundamentals of grassroots development.
Omidiran said: “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.”
The former executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation stressed the need for proper investment and clear developmental strategies.
“We have to start from the grassroots, discover these girls early, nurture them and give them the right environment to grow,” she said.
Omidiran said rebuilding the women’s game required more than short-term interventions, stressing the importance of sustained and coordinated development.
She advocated early talent identification, quality coaching, adequate facilities, regular competitions and clear pathways into professional football.
The FCC chairman also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm while football authorities and stakeholders deliberate on addressing challenges confronting women’s football.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm,” she said, adding that authorities were considering necessary measures to rebuild the women’s football ecosystem.
“We must use this moment to rebuild. We cannot continue to rely only on the successes of the past,” she said.
She said Nigeria needed a sustainable system capable of continuously producing talented players for national teams and professional clubs.
Omidiran expressed delight at the participation of young girls in the FCT Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament.
She described grassroots competitions as critical platforms for nurturing confidence, discovering talent and securing the future of women’s football.
“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.
She commended Dr Pat Ajuma Ayegba, an FCT FA Board Member and initiator of the competition, for her commitment to grassroots development.
Omidiran praised Ayegba’s consistency, investment and positive impact on girls participating in grassroots football.
She said: “You cannot develop women’s football without investing in the girl child.
“We need more people willing to put their resources, time and energy into creating opportunities for these young girls.”
She said the initiative aligned with her Girls Play Sports Initiative, launched in 2024 to promote sports participation among girls.
“We had 64 teams competing across the different regions and zones of the country, and we brought the final here to Abuja,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that defending champions AMAC defeated Gwagwalada 7-0 in the tournament’s opening fixture.
The 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament will run from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.
The competition features all six Area Councils of the FCT, divided into two groups for the tournament.
AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada are in Group A, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali constitute Group B. (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo