Rasheedat Ajibade takes hygiene and health drive to grassroots

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team captain Rasheedat Ajibade is championing efforts to improve hygiene, mental health and personal health education among grassroots female footballers through the Rash Hygiene Hub, an initiative of the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation.

The project has completed three phases in Lagos, benefiting more than 600 young female footballers from various clubs with hygiene kits and educational sessions designed to promote their wellbeing both on and off the pitch.

The third phase of the Lagos outreach took place on Saturday at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, where participants received training on nutrition, mental health, personal hygiene, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The session also featured a practical CPR demonstration led by resource persons from the Nigeria Red Cross Society and other project partners.

Ajibade said the initiative was created in response to the challenges faced by grassroots female footballers, particularly those from families struggling to meet basic needs.

“Grassroots female football is chronically under-resourced, and hygiene is deprioritised when families are focused on survival,” she said.

“This leads to compromised health, hygiene and confidence both on and off the pitch, and makes them feel that their dignity and wellbeing come second to their circumstances, rather than being seen first as girls who deserve care.”

One of the beneficiaries, 17-year-old Aliyah Oyelade of Goldenwealth Football Academy, Igando, described the programme as an eye-opening experience.

“I have been playing football since I was 11 and I find this as an eye-opener. I have learned new things, and the CPR session is the biggest gain for me. I have heard about CPR, but I haven’t seen it in practice,” she said.

The Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation plans to expand the initiative beyond Lagos and reach grassroots female footballers in other parts of Nigeria.

“Our ambition is national. We understand that this happens in stages, and that each stage must be delivered and evidenced before the next begins. We intend to replicate the Lagos model,” Ajibade said.

She explained that each phase of the project follows a seven-step process — verify, register, map by travel corridor, deliver, reconcile, report and review — to ensure that its impact can be effectively tracked.

“Our vision is to create a hub where female grassroots footballers who cannot afford basic hygiene products can access essential hygiene supplies and personal health education that supports their holistic well-being, empowering them to feel clean, confident and whole,” she added.