THE First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has expressed the need for parents to encourage their children, especially the girl-child, to venture into the game of football. She claimed that the sport will create an avenue for greater opportunities and economic emancipation.
While speaking to the Gianni Infantino (FIFA President) - led FIFA delegation during the team’s courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa on Thursday, September 16, 2021, Mrs. Buhari said; “Football has tremendous benefits not only on the part of the Administrators or the families of the players but on the society at large.
”We, therefore, have a role to play as parents to change the narrative to influence and increase positive attitudes toward gender equality and development.”
The first lady explained that her collaboration with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to host the ongoing Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament was to promote Women’s football for greater opportunities.
“I collaborated with the NFF to promote women's football in Nigeria and worldwide, through the Aisha Buhari Cup, to build on the gains achieved so far and to create additional opportunities for the girl-child,” she said.
The First Lady, therefore, urged Nigerian women not to see football as a gender-specific game peculiar to the males but as a means of economic development.
