The ancient city of Benin came alive with excitement and inspiration as the second edition of the Aisha Falode ‘Girls Play’ Forward initiative kicked off at the Lucky Igbinedion Sports Complex, GRA, Benin City, Edo State.
The initiative, founded by respected sports administrator and women’s football advocate Aisha Falode, is aimed at empowering young girls through football, mentorship, leadership training, health education, and life skills development.
Designed to create safe spaces for girls to learn, grow, and express themselves, the programme uses the power of sport to build confidence, teamwork, discipline, and self-belief among participants from underserved communities.
The atmosphere at the venue has been filled with energy, laughter, and excitement as the girls took part in football activities, interactive sessions, games, face painting, and mentorship engagements alongside notable guests and supporters of the initiative.
The event also serves as part of activities marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, reinforcing the importance of investing in the future of the girl-child through sports and education.
Here are some colourful and memorable moments captured from the ongoing event in Benin City as the girls continue to enjoy a fun-filled and impactful experience.
He also served as Deputy Editor at Sahara Reporters Sports and worked as Content Manager for the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), contributing significantly to sports journalism and digital content development in Nigeria.
Known for his strong storytelling ability and editorial expertise, Olayinka Olawole has covered a wide range of subjects, while also building a reputation in digital storytelling, audience engagement, and content optimisation for online and media platforms.
