A campaign aimed at increasing female participation in American football reached Owerri on Wednesday as secondary school girls were introduced to the sport and the career opportunities connected to it.
The awareness programme, organised by the Gridiron Gems Initiative in partnership with the Nigeria–America Football Association, was held at Girls Secondary School, Ikenegbu, in Imo State. The event focused on encouraging young girls to explore opportunities in American football while also promoting leadership, mentorship and personal development.
Speaking during the programme, Coordinator of Gridiron Gems Initiative and Vice President of the Nigeria–America Football Association, Nancy Damhindi, said the project was designed to expose girls to the sport at an early age and increase female representation within the American football ecosystem.
She noted that while men have dominated participation in the sport for years, women remain underrepresented across several areas of the game.
“This programme was initiated by Gridiron Gems Initiative in collaboration with Browns Nigeria to introduce American Football to girls in secondary schools and show them the opportunities and career paths available in the sport,” she said.
Damhindi explained that the initiative goes beyond playing the game, adding that participants were also educated on leadership, mentorship and menstrual hygiene. According to her, the organisers are working to create a safe environment that encourages more girls to take part in sports without barriers.
She further highlighted the growing presence of Nigerian athletes in American football abroad, noting that some Nigerians are currently playing professionally in the United States and for national teams in other countries.
Beyond athletic participation, she said the sport offers career opportunities in areas such as coaching, officiating, physiotherapy, medicine and sports law, where more female involvement is needed.
As part of the outreach, the organisers distributed 500 sanitary pads and personal care items to the students. Damhindi said the gesture was intended to address menstrual hygiene concerns, which can sometimes discourage girls from participating in sports activities.
One of the beneficiaries, Princess Duru, expressed appreciation to the organisers for the programme. She said the session provided valuable lessons on leadership, mentorship, career development and menstrual health, while also introducing students to American football.
