By Dr. Paul Edeh, chairman of the Benue State Football Association, has called on Nigerian women to take an active role in establishing and managing women’s football teams. His appeal came during the Newstap/SWAN Five Star Sports Awards, where he dedicated his award to the promotion of women’s football.
Edeh, who founded Naija Ratels and Benue Queens, emphasized that the recognition he received should serve as motivation for continued contributions to Nigerian sports. He praised the award organizers for their fairness in selecting honorees, noting that such initiatives encourage further development in the sector.
“I am dedicating this award to our women footballers to enable them to do more in the game,” Edeh stated. “They’ve conquered Africa many times and have also performed commendably on the world stage. I want them to maintain this momentum.”
However, he also expressed concern over the lack of female-led football clubs in Nigeria, questioning why men are the ones primarily setting up teams for women. “It’s surprising that it’s men that are setting up women’s football club sides in the country while our well-to-do women are sitting on the bench watching,” he said.
Edeh urged wealthy and influential women to take action by investing in women’s football, highlighting the potential for job creation and empowerment for young girls. “I challenge our women folk to start thinking of floating women teams,” he declared, emphasizing the importance of female leadership in the sport.
His passionate call comes at a time when the push for greater female representation in sports leadership is gaining traction. Whether Nigerian women will step up to the challenge remains to be seen, but Edeh’s message has sparked a crucial conversation about the future of women’s football in the country.
