Rasheedat Ajibade Reaffirms Commitment to Grassroots Football Development After Meeting Plateau Governor

Rasheedat Ajibade, captain of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, has renewed her commitment to strengthening grassroots football development following a meeting with Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang focused on advancing women’s football, coaching education, and youth development.

The Super Falcons forward made this known in a statement shared on her verified Facebook page after leading a delegation from the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation to the Government House in Jos.

According to Ajibade, discussions during the visit centered on improving grassroots women’s football through stronger coaching structures, structured talent development programmes, and expanded educational opportunities for young players.

She described the engagement as meaningful, noting the importance of collaboration between government and private initiatives in building sustainable sports development systems.

“It was a great honour to meet with His Excellency, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, at the Government House in Jos as part of the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation’s visit to the beautiful city of Jos,” she said.

Ajibade added that the Foundation remains focused on creating long-term pathways for emerging talent, stressing that sports development plays a key role in community growth and social impact.

She explained that the Foundation’s mission is to ensure young athletes are adequately supported to reach their full potential through access to training, mentorship, and structured development systems.

“As a Foundation, we understand that sports talent optimisation is critical to building stronger communities. This visit was aimed at strengthening our drive to ensure that these talents are supported in every way possible to become the best version of themselves,” she noted.

Ajibade further emphasized the broader vision of using sport as a tool for social transformation across Africa, saying investment in coaching, player welfare, and development pathways is essential for long-term progress.

She also expressed appreciation to Governor Mutfwang for receiving the delegation and engaging in discussions on the future of sports development in Plateau State.

“The Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation believes that sport is not separate from society; it reflects it. When we invest in coaches, protect young players, and create pathways for girls and boys in football, we are investing in Africa itself,” she added.

Ajibade reaffirmed the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting Nigeria’s sports ecosystem and empowering the next generation of athletes through sustainable partnerships and development programmes, saying: “The drive to impact the promising sports ecosystem continues.”

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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