The Chief Executive Of Officer of Ayomidiran Foundation, Honourable Ayo Omidiran has described the newly inaugurated "Girls Play Sports Football Tournament" as a movement aimed at giving young girls with potentials the opportunity to elevate their games to a higher level through the exposure and experience that the tournament will provide to them.

Honourable Omidiran who was speaking at  launching of the  “Girls Play Sports” Football Tournament, in Abuja said the groundbreaking initiative is aimed at discovering and promoting sports development among young girls in Nigeria.

The C.E.O of Ayomidiran Foundation said “This ‘Girls Play Sports’ initiative is set up to promote and empower young girls through the sport of football, aiming to provide a developmental platform, minimize social vices among young girls, and foster unity across Nigeria,” 

The two-time House of Representative member told the media that the tournament is to foster equality, build confidence and encourage a healthy lifestyle among the young girls. She said the tournament will serve as a platform for them to showcase their talents, develop their skills and pursue their dreams in sports.

“The ‘Girls Play Sports’ Women’s Football Tournament is more than just a tournament; it is a movement aimed at fostering equality, building confidence, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and providing gainful opportunities through sports among our young girls. By involving grassroots teams from both the North and South of Nigeria, we seek to minimize social vices among young girls and promote a spirit of unity and inclusivity through the love of football. 

“With the support of the Nigeria Football Federation, our partners, and women’s football stakeholders, we aim to create a lasting impact on these young girls’ lives. We are excited about the journey ahead and look forward to witnessing the massive girl-child talent discovery and development that will emerge from this championship.”

Dr. Muhammad Sanusi, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, who also represented the NFF President, hailed the initiative and its alignment with the administration’s agenda for women’s football development, while lauding Honorable Omidiran for her pivotal role and remarkable contributions in supporting the women’s game.

“To us at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), this is a welcome idea. The board of the NFF keys into the FIFA vision of football development with various league programs and a focus on ‘catch them young,'” the NFF scribe said. 

“This is the right step in the right direction. This program will greatly impact the grassroots and help to elevate the standard of women’s football in Nigeria. I will ensure that the Director of the Technical Department and Competitions identifies with this laudable program.”

“We cannot thank the Proprietor of Ayomidiran Foundation enough. It is not surprising that you are doing this because we know that she is one of the pioneers of women’s football in Nigeria. We cannot forget the exploits of Omidiran Babes and the role she played when she was in the National Assembly to ensure peace and harmony in Nigerian football.”

The inaugural championship will run from August 30 to September 30 2024, with eight teams making it to the Northern and Southern playoff finals from the preliminary round in the country’s six geopolitical zones. 

Registration is free and will only open to non-league clubs via the Ayomidiran Foundation website (ayomidiranfoundation.com) from July 24 and will close on August 23. Teams will have one month to train and prepare, with a maximum of 30 players per team. Draws and fixtures will be determined after the registration period ends.

The Ayomidiran Foundation is dedicated to unearthing, promoting, and empowering young girls through sports and education. By providing opportunities and resources, the foundation aims to foster a generation of confident, skilled, and empowered women who can contribute positively to society.