From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Team FIDA, representing the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja, on Friday emerged overall winner of the 2025 FAME Foundation International Women’s Day football tournament held in Abuja.
Team FIDA beat Team FAME 1-0 to win the tournament.
This event forms a significant part of FAME Foundation’s International Women’s Day celebrations, highlighting women’s empowerment, teamwork, and inclusivity through the medium of sports. The tournament featured eight teams: Team FIDA, Team FAME, Team NUT (Nigeria Union of Teachers), Team ASWHAN, Team Bet9ja, Team IDP, Team FIRS, and Team ProSocial.
Team FIDA played against three different teams on their way to securing the top spot, while Team FAME Foundation took second place.
The third position was claimed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) after a thrilling penalty shootout win over Team Bet9ja. inister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, assured of President Bola Tinubu’s administration inclusivity policy He advocated for increased participation of women in leadership roles across multiple sectors, including sports, politics, and governance.
He said: “Women play a crucial role in our society, and their challenges must be addressed. Beyond that, we must recognize that women are a driving force in this country.
“We all come from women. Throughout our lives, we remain connected to them, as mothers, sisters, wives, and mentors. They are essential to personal and societal growth, not just in Nigeria but globally.
“Many people assume that when we talk about youth, we are only referring to young men. But young women are also part of the youth, and they must be included in our policies and initiatives. As a ministry dedicated to youth development, we ensure young women are part of the equation, whether in sports, entertainment, tech, or agriculture.”
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, in his remarks earlier praised Nigerian female athletes for their exceptional contributions to sports, highlighting their crucial role in earning national pride and success.
He highlighted the remarkable achievements of female athletes across various sports.
Dikko said: “You can see how sports have been seamlessly integrated into the celebration of Women’s Day, and this speaks volumes about its unifying power. Sports is a national asset, it transcends our differences, brings us together, and fosters unity. Look around, women from all sectors of society, from the corporate world to law enforcement, are here, having a good time.
“In the world of sports, we are deeply passionate about women and youth, especially female athletes. History itself proves their significance, Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic medal was won by a woman.
“Our Tigers, you can see what they are doing in basketball, the women trying to always do more than even the men. Even in football, the Super Falcons have won more half-courts than the men. They have won the quarterfinals of the World Cup. “So women are very critical. Even when we go to athletes, for example, most of the medals, everywhere we go, women, wrestling women. So they are critical to us.”
In her remarks, Aderonke Ogunkeye-Bello, the Founder of Fame Foundation, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to building a strong force among women groups to contribute to national development.
The tournament was officially opened by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), with several dignitaries from various organizations in attendance.