Asisat Oshoala calls on Nigerian government to prioritise safeguarding girls, urging laws and policies to protect young female athletes and children

Asisat Oshoala calls for safeguarding Nigerian girls in a powerful plea urging the Federal Government to prioritise investment in protecting the nation’s girl child.

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The Super Falcons striker spoke candidly about her own journey to stardom, describing it as a mix of hard work, resilience, and good fortune — privileges not every girl enjoys.

Citing a UNICEF report, Oshoala highlighted alarming statistics: six out of every ten children in Nigeria face some form of violence, with one in four girls experiencing sexual violence.

“For us in sports, the statistics are even more alarming,” she said, referencing a UNESCO report that found 21% of female athletes suffered sexual abuse as children.

“When I lace up my boots, I carry more than just the weight of my team on my shoulders; I carry the dreams of every little girl who sees herself in me. But not every girl is as lucky. Too often, places meant to nurture talent become sites of pain,” Oshoala stressed.

She described safeguarding not just as a policy but a sacred promise — ensuring that every girl stepping onto a pitch or into a classroom feels secure, valued, and protected.

At the Asisat Oshoala Academy, supported by partners Nike and Women Win, safeguarding forms a foundational pillar.

The academy’s robust protection policies make it one of Nigeria’s foremost female football academies prioritising the safety of its players.

Oshoala urged the Federal Government to enshrine safeguarding in law, making it a constitutional requirement for organisations responsible for children’s futures.

She called for clear policies, prevention programmes, and staff training to tackle abuse effectively.

Moreover, she appealed for confidential, survivor-centred reporting mechanisms that foster trust and guarantee every voice is heard without fear of reprisal.

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“Every young girl deserves a safe pitch, a safe classroom, and a safe path to her dreams. Safeguarding is not charity; it is justice. It is the promise we make to the next generation that their potential will not be dimmed by fear or harm,” Oshoala concluded.