Chairman Lagos State Football Association LSFA, Liammed Olawale Gafar has expressed his joy that the much anticipated Mentorship/Training Programmes For Females in Sport which was held last weekend recorded huge success
The event which was put together by the Lagos State Female Football Development Committee in conjunction with the LSFA held last Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena popularly known as Onikan Stadium.
No fewer than 300 female footballers from the ages of 7 to 15 years were mentored by several former female footballers, football stakeholders, investors, businesses men and women, who gave the excited and joyous girls, with life-changing speeches on different aspects of life, including sports education, financial literacy, and life improvement nuggets.
The one-day event which was tagged, ‘It’s Time For Girls’, witnessed large numbers of turnouts that lived up to expectations.
In his welcome address, Gafar said he was happy to see the young girls at the event and noted that the girl-child is special and must be treated with love and care at all times.
While appreciating the efforts of the LSFA Female Football Development Committee, he promised that the LSFA will continue to support and help develop female football in the State.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Female Football Development Committee, Alhaja Raliat Anako Abdulsalam, expressed her delight with the impressive turnout of the participants and promised that the event will get better and bigger in subsequent editions.
Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende representing the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, was welcomed by a tumultuous ovation to the event, by the excited kids.
He also commended the efforts of the event organisers and described the programme as historic, timely and in sync, with the developmental programmes of Lagos State Government.
The youthful Ogunlende added that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is youth-friendly and would continue to support such initiatives, which are aimed at empowering the youth of the State.
Some prominent football personalities who graced the event as mentors and supporters, include SSA On Sports To Governor Sanwo-Olu, Hon. Damilare Orimoloye, Hon Adebanji Adeoye, SSA Grassroots Sports and Hon. Damilola Ayinde Marshal, SSA On Tourism.
Others include a representative of one of the headline sponsors, Lotus Bank, Adeoye Afeez Abiodun, who is also a LSFA board member, former Super Falcons goalkeeper, Ann Chiejine-Agumanu, CEO of TopPro Sports Management Company, Ayodele Thomas, NWFL Chairperson, Miss Nkechi Obi, as well as, the full complement of LSFA board members.
The organisers thanked the sponsors and partners including Lotus Bank, Tingo, TopPro Sports Management Company, Alert Group, Ivory Health Club, 36 Lion Investment Limited, KidSports, Ladies In Sports, Raliat Anako Abdulsalam Foundation (RAAF) and Afro Sport, for ensuring that the event was a huge success.
