Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala’s foundation organized an Easter Fiesta, “S.H.E PLAYS,” equipping young Nigerian girls with football skills, leadership qualities, and vocational training for life beyond the pitch
The Asisat Oshoala Foundation is actively shaping the future of young Nigerian girls by providing them with comprehensive training in football skills, leadership qualities, and essential life skills through its innovative programmes.
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On Easter Monday, the foundation hosted an impactful Easter Fiesta event at the Femi Gbajabiamila Mini Stadium in Ojuelegba.
The programme, branded “S.H.E PLAYS” (Sports, Humanitarian, Education), offered participants a range of enriching activities, including life skills and leadership sessions, mentorship opportunities, soccer skills training, CPR instruction, and an engaging mini football tournament.
Lanre Vigo, the Academy Director, emphasized the foundation’s holistic approach, stating, “For me, I believe that the future is female, and we have to start teaching our young girls life skills, and leadership skills.
We organise this sort of event to teach them skills that will help them succeed in whatever field they go into because not everyone will make it as a professional footballer.”
Oluwaseun Savage, Head of Operations at the academy, explained that the Easter Fiesta is an annual sports humanitarian programme designed to allow girls to explore diverse activities and develop various talents.
“We used this edition to bring the girls together, learn more about football, and discover their leadership skills. We teach them other means outside playing football that they can also become coaches and managers,” Savage elaborated.
Established eight years ago, the Asisat Oshoala Foundation prioritizes comprehensive development that extends beyond excelling in football, acknowledging the limited career span in the sport.
Alabi Kazeem, Head Coach of the Academy, noted, “Football has a lifespan as well, hardly will you find a girl playing more than 15 years, and after that, some will need things to fall back on and that is what Asisat Oshoala is particularly about.”
The academy has already produced promising talents, including Janet Semenya, who currently represents Nigeria at youth levels and plays for Nasarawa Amazons.
In a significant partnership with the Lagos State Government, the foundation also operates a vocational study centre, offering training in carpentry, hairdressing, bead making, and other valuable skills.
Aminat Ajao, a participant and a 400-level engineering student at the University of Ilorin who plays as a defender, shared her experiences balancing football and education.
She expressed admiration for Asisat Oshoala and Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie, who successfully navigate both fields.
Ajao emphasized the need for more initiatives like the S.H.E PLAYS camp to motivate girls and encourage parental support for their football aspirations, expressing gratitude to Asisat Oshoala for the impactful programme.
Looking ahead, Vigo outlined the academy’s plans for expansion beyond Lagos, emphasizing the need for support from corporate bodies and the government to maximize their impact and reach more young girls with their empowering programmes.
“We are still going to do a couple more events this year. The academy runs all year around and we want to bring in more girls and go to schools as well to teach them more of these skills that they can make a living out of aside from football,” Vigo concluded.
