Women take the field, this time in the boardroom

...As Nigeria Federation of American Football sets for historic inauguration of its new board
By Maxwell Kumoye 
  
  
 

Nigeria’s sports governance just recorded a quiet but powerful first down.

As the Nigeria Federation of American Football (NFAF) prepares for the historic inauguration of its new board, two heavyweight women’s sports bodies, the National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS) and the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN) have secured seats at the decision-making table, signaling a welcome shift in how Nigerian sports is governed.

The new NFAF board will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, by the National Sports Commission (NSC) at its Abuja headquarters, an event that will also run alongside the Local Organising Committee meeting for the 2027 African School Sports Games. 

Symbolism meets substance and progress on and off the field.

NAWIS has nominated Dr. Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, while AFFAN will be represented by Uchenna Usife, two experienced voices now positioned to influence policy, development, and direction in one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing sports.

Beyond American football, the message is bigger, women belong in the rooms where sports decisions are made.

For decades, female athletes and administrators have driven Nigeria’s success from the background winning medals, building programmes, mentoring the next generation yet boardrooms across many national sports federations have remained stubbornly male-dominated. 

The inclusion of NAWIS and AFFAN on the NFAF board challenges that norm and sets a benchmark other federations can no longer ignore.

The NSC’s move aligns with International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards on gender balance, but more importantly, it reflects a growing understanding at home, diverse boards make better decisions.

When women with lived sporting experience help shape governance, development becomes more inclusive, policies become smarter, and pathways for young girls widen.

The inauguration of the NFAF board itself is a milestone, offering structure, credibility, and long-term vision for American football in Nigeria. 

Yet its lasting legacy may well be the precedent it sets, that women’s representation is not a favour, but a necessity.

As Nigeria continues to reform its sports ecosystem, the challenge is clear, one federation has opened the doors. Others must now follow.

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