AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Kwara State Governor has advocated for more Nigerian women active participation in sports; either as athletes or administrators.
The governor who described sports as ‘a profession for all’ stated this in an address on Thursday’s, plenary of the 11th National Conference of Association of Nigerian Women in Sports (NAWIS), held in Ilorin.
Represented by the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Mogaji, the Governor lauded NAWIS for complementing the efforts of government at all levels, in sports development, by convening such an important conference.
Declaring the 2-day Conference open, Mallam Mogaji expressed optimism that the deliberations during the event will surely provide solutions to the barriers and hindrances facing women in sports, in the whole of Nigeria.
Dame Pauline Tallen Minister of Women Affairs advocated for effective mentorship for women, to better equip them in proffering solutions to some of the challenges and obstacles militating against their progression and development, in sports.
Tallen, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on SDGs to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Dr Jemilat Bio Ibrahim said women were facing numerous challenges in other sectors as in sports, but believed that with the National Conference organised by NAWIS, appropriate recommendations would be proffered as remedy to some of the drawbacks.
National President of NAWIS, Florence Bola Adeyanju said the association had been in the fore-front of improving the status of girls and women since the inauguration of the body in 1990 and promised not to relent in promoting their interests, especially in the area of sports participation and administration.
While highlighting some of the milestones of the association which includes sponsorship of sports competitions for girls in primary and secondary schools, engaging women in various communities in keep-fit programme and creating awareness on sexually transmitted diseases during sports programme, Mrs Adeyanju thanked the wife of the Kwara Governor, Dr. Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, for her support towards the hosting of the Conference in Ilorin.
She said that the Conference, themed “Pushing the Boundaries and Inspiring Positive Changes in the Challenges Facing Nigerian Women in Sports” was a veritable platform for the creation of greater awareness among Nigerians that sports can be beneficial to all, regardless of gender.
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