In what many are calling the dawn of a new chapter for women’s football in Nigeria, Nkechi Obi, Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), and her Board have officially stepped down after a transformative two-year tenure marked by bold vision, resilient leadership, and undeniable progress.

Obi, who assumed office in mid-2023, exits with a legacy that has redefined the contours of the women’s game in Nigeria—one built on expansion, inclusion, sustainability, and visibility.

In a heartfelt handover memo to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, Obi reflected on her team’s mission from day one: to pull the league from obscurity and place it on a foundation of professionalism and opportunity. “We have built a foundation that I hope future boards can build upon,” she wrote.

A League Reimagined

Under her leadership, the NWFL Premiership expanded from 14 to 20 clubs, a leap that significantly widened the playing field ahead of the upcoming 2025 season. The Championship League doubled in size, and the grassroots Nationwide League was reborn as the States League, which will launch this August with more than 150 teams across 30 states—one of the most ambitious youth and community development efforts in the history of Nigerian football.

Central to this transformation was the “Women’s Football Rising” campaign, an initiative that sought to increase the number of registered female footballers from just 450 in 2023 to over 5,000 by the end of 2025. Today, the campaign is well on track to meet that goal.

Taking the Game to the World

Obi’s tenure also saw a revolution in how Nigerian women’s football was seen—both at home and abroad. For two consecutive seasons, every NWFL Premiership Super 6 match was broadcast live, giving players unprecedented visibility. Championship League games reached new viewers via international streaming platforms, while the league’s digital footprint more than doubled on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. A strategic move onto LinkedIn drew in previously untapped corporate attention.

“Visibility breeds value,” Obi often said. That belief paid off.

Financial Turnaround

When Obi and her team took office, the NWFL faced a financial deficit exceeding ₦25 million. By mid-2024, that deficit had been erased, replaced by a modest surplus and a credible financial roadmap for growth. For the first time in league history, a privately owned club sponsored the 2025 Super 6 tournament—marking a shift away from overreliance on government subvention.

The number of privately owned clubs in the Premiership rose from two in 2023 to five in 2025—an encouraging signal that the business of women’s football in Nigeria is becoming more attractive to investors.

Players at the Center

The progress extended to the players themselves. The Board introduced a new minimum wage policy, raising the floor from ₦30,000 to ₦80,000 per month—an overdue recognition of players’ professional status. More female players received national team call-ups, and in 2024, Nigeria returned to the CAF Women’s Champions League. Bayelsa Queens are now set to represent the nation again in 2025, reflecting the improved standards at the club level.

A Leadership Style That Inspired

What perhaps defined Obi’s leadership most was her open, collaborative style. “We wanted to build a league with a listening ear,” she once said. Her Board prioritized transparency, preparing detailed handover reports and audited accounts to ensure a seamless transition for the incoming administration.

Preparations for the new States League and the final Championship fixtures continue uninterrupted—testament to the systems the outgoing Board put in place.

Looking Ahead

As she exits the stage, Obi leaves behind a movement that now hums with energy and hope. Her final note reads not like a farewell, but a charge to those who follow: “To all who supported us, thank you. To the next Board, the story continues. Make it greater.”

In a country where women’s football has often been an afterthought, Nkechi Obi and her Board have left more than a mark—they’ve lit a path forward.