The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the United Nations Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF) have commenced discussions on a strategic partnership aimed at promoting child welfare, with a strong focus on polio eradication, girl-child protection and campaigns against child abuse in Nigeria.
The proposed collaboration, which is expected to culminate in a memorandum of understanding, was discussed on Wednesday during a meeting between officials of both organisations at the NFF secretariat in Abuja.
Leading the UNICEF delegation was the organisation’s Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnership, Lone Hvass, while the NFF team was headed by the federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
During the meeting, both bodies explored several areas of collaboration that would leverage the influence of football and prominent athletes to drive awareness campaigns targeted at improving the lives of children, especially young girls.
Speaking during the engagement, Hvass said UNICEF intends to engage players of Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, as ambassadors in campaigns addressing polio and other issues affecting children.
“Our objective is to engage a couple of players of the Super Falcons to speak out about polio, raise awareness, and address other key issues affecting children,” Hvass stated.
“We have had successful collaborations in the past with great Nigerian ambassadors and we believe role models from sports are extremely powerful for these campaigns.
“Families and even children pay attention when trusted and well-known figures speak on these issues.”
According to UNICEF officials, the partnership is expected to use football as a tool for public enlightenment, advocacy and social mobilisation, particularly in communities where awareness about vaccination, child protection and girls’ welfare remains low.
Responding, Sanusi described UNICEF’s initiative as timely and important, stressing that the current NFF leadership remains deeply committed to child development and social impact programmes.
“Polio has had a devastating impact on children in Africa, Nigeria inclusive. Any effort to protect children from polio and other related diseases is welcome, and you have our full support in this initiative,” he said.
The NFF general secretary also emphasized the unifying power of football in shaping public opinion and driving positive behavioural change.
“Football is an exceptionally powerful tool to drive positive campaigns and we will explore various pathways for enlightenment as soon as we have a memorandum of understanding and the full rung of the areas in which we are collaborating,” Sanusi added.
He further disclosed that beyond the Super Falcons, players from Nigeria’s U-20 and U-17 women’s national teams could also participate in the advocacy programmes to broaden the campaign’s reach among younger audiences.
Officials present at the meeting included UNICEF Nigeria Communication Specialist Susan Akila and Communication Specialist at the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Samuel Kaalu.
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Also in attendance from the NFF were Director of Media and Communications Ademola Olajire, Director of Competitions Ruth David, Director of Finance and Administration Rajan Zaka, Director of Marketing and Sponsorships Alizor Chuks and Head of International Competitions Enebi Achor.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, are preparing for the official draw ceremony of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place on Friday in Łódź, Poland.
Falconets Head Coach Moses Aduku and Team Administrator Kelechi Omeke are expected to represent Nigeria at the draw ceremony held at the EC1 Cultural Centre.
Nigeria secured qualification for the global tournament alongside Benin Republic, Ghana and Tanzania, who will represent Africa at the 24-team championship billed for September 5 to 27 across the Polish cities of Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec and Bielsko-Biała.
