The founder, Association of Nigeria Women in Sports (NAWIS), Prof. Florence Adeyanju, on Friday, said the association would build formidable women and girls to develop their career through sports.
Adeyanju said this at the 12th Annual Conference of the Association in Akure, with the theme: “Dynamics of Gender and Sports Participation: The place of Women in Sports in Nigeria.”
According to her, the three-day conference, expected to end with a dinner on May 4, will surely go into the annals of history of Ondo State as a sports loving state.
She said women and girls needed to form formidable alliances to help to build and manage their careers in sports.
Also, the Chairman of the event, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, while declaring the conference open, said there was strength in the unity of women, adding that women in sports associations were fantastic.
Ige said that it was pertinent to continue to encourage girls in sports to enable them to continue to excel.
He said that since the conference was meant to bring out the best of the association, recommendations of the conference would benefit women immensely.
Also speaking, the National President of NAWIS, Prof. Olufunke Suleiman, reiterated that the association was established to ensure that women and girls developed their career through sports.
Suleiman added that the association was also inaugurated protect the interest of girls and women, protect them against any form of harassment and help them to attain their desired goals in their chosen careers.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of the Association in the state, Princess Adejoke Adebusoye, said the 12th annual national Conference of the association was more than just a meeting of minds.
She said, “It is a celebration of achievements, knowledge, innovation and collaboration.’’
She added that it was also a moment for members to broaden their horizons and embrace the wealth of expertise around.
Adebusoye urged members of the association to take advantage of the conference to make new connections.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state, who said that NAWIS was a beacon of hope to younger generations, enjoined them to maintain the link across various spheres in the society.
Aiyedatiwa added that as people united by love through sports, they should keep the passion and do more in transmitting same to young ladies through constant communication, encouragement, enlightenment and mentorship.
Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Special Adviser on Gender, Mrs Olamide Falana, urged the association to keep in mind that there were encouraging future for females in sports in Nigeria.
He added that the future of sports lay in the collective strength and capacities of women.
“Women can insist and build a more gender balanced sporting world that we will be proud of.
“Women have faced challenges such as lack of access to training facilities, limited funding and resources, discrimination and unequal treatment compared to their male counterparts.
“These barriers have hindered the development of women’s sports in Nigeria and have contributed to the underrepresentation of women in the sporting arena.
“Despite these, records showed that women are doing well above their male counterparts,’’ he said.
