Rasheedat Ajibade Unveils Foundation Vision to Boost Grassroots Football Development in Nigeria

Rasheedat Ajibade, winger for Paris Saint-Germain Féminine and captain of Nigeria’s women’s national team, has explained that the driving force behind her charity foundation is to strengthen football development in Nigeria and ensure that emerging talents receive comprehensive support.

Ajibade made the remarks during a community outreach programme in Jos, where she also paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang. The visit formed part of efforts by the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation to engage stakeholders in advancing sports development at the grassroots level.

She revealed that discussions with the governor focused on improving women’s football structures, coaching education, youth development pathways, scouting systems, and broader female empowerment initiatives across Plateau State.

According to her, the foundation is particularly committed to strengthening grassroots women’s football through better coaching frameworks, structured talent development programmes, and expanded educational opportunities for young players.

The former FC Robo Queens star, who has also played for Avaldsnes IL and Atlético Madrid Femenino, stressed that sports development can serve as a powerful catalyst for community growth and social impact.

Ajibade said:

“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.

“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. We understand that talent optimisation is critical to building stronger communities.”

Beyond her philanthropic efforts, Ajibade is also expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s campaign at the upcoming African Women’s Cup of Nations, where the Nigeria women’s national football team will target a record-extending 11th continental title.

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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