Abuja: The Women’s Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has officially announced the kick-off of the second edition of its Women in Sports seminar series. Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of NOC, revealed that the series would take place across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones starting from July 9.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nezianya stated that the President of the NOC, Habu Gumel, would inaugurate the event, while Kemi Obidahunsi, the Secretary of the Commission, would serve as the coordinating officer-in-charge of the project. The commission has expanded its scope this year to include referees, umpires, and technical officials, following the success of the first edition.
Nezianya noted that the seminar aligns with the spirit of International Women’s Day, emphasizing capacity-building in sports. The initiative aims at inclusivity, allowing participation from a broad range of female stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, including administrators, coaches, and newly added technical personnel.
The seminar series is scheduled to commence in the North-West Zone and will be held from July 9 to July 11, 2025, at the Business School, CBN Centre of Excellence, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The North-Central leg will follow from July 14 to July 16, 2025, at the University of Jos. The remaining geopolitical zones-North-East, South-South, South-East, and South-West-are slated for August 2025, with specific dates and venues to be announced soon.
Nezianya mentioned that seasoned sports administrators, coaches, and technical experts would deliver lectures and facilitate workshops for the participants. This initiative is part of the NOC’s strategy to elevate women into leadership roles within the nation’s sporting structure, aligning with global bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to promote greater gender equity in sports governance.