NOC targets 100 Lagos girls with sports empowerment

The Nigeria Olympic Committee Women Commission will host more than 100 adolescent girls from secondary schools across Lagos State on Saturday, October 10 at the OlympAfrica Centre, Amuwo-Odofin, as part of activities marking the International Day of the Girl Child.

Themed “Her Voice, Her Future: Investing in Girls Through Sports and Education,” the day-long programme will bring together schoolgirls, young female athletes, coaches and stakeholders from the sports, education and advocacy sectors. Activities will feature presentations by women leaders in education, sports and digital technology, mentorship sessions, sporting activities and the official launch of the “Her Voice” pledge.

NOC president Habu Gumel stated that the initiative aims to highlight the rights of young females while using sports and education as tools for empowerment, leadership development and personal growth. “We believe that when you invest in a girl’s education and empower her through sports, you are not just educating one girl – you are giving her a voice to shape her own future. Our theme ‘Her Voice, Her Future’ is a call to replace child marriage with classrooms and playgrounds where girls can learn, lead, and thrive,” Gumel said.

The event forms part of the Commission’s 2026 annual programme, which will also include the Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for journalists scheduled for October 22 to 24 in Abuja. Organisers said the Lagos programme is designed to encourage school retention through sports, promote digital technology as an empowerment tool, and challenge limiting narratives around the girl child.

The recently renovated Olympic Sports Complex at Amuwo-Odofin is expected to come alive as girls participate in sessions aimed at building confidence, skills and leadership capacity.