A speech by Babajide Akeredolu presented on the 25th of July 2023.
INTRODUCTION
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and fellow sports enthusiasts, I stand before you today to provide an overview of the remarkable journey of the American Football Association Nigeria (NAFA). Our relentless commitment to creating opportunities through the game of American football has yielded extraordinary results, and it is with great pride that I share some of our key achievements and exciting plans.
BRIEF ON NAFA
The American Football Association of Nigeria was established with a clear vision in mind – to create opportunities through the game of American Football. We are determined to provide a viable platform for Nigerian youths to utilize American football for both personal and national development. The passionate individuals who came together to create NAFA sought to elevate the standard of the sport in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of seeing it ranked high among other prominent sports in the country. Drawing from our collective experience of playing the sport as a recreational activity abroad and back in Nigeria, we envisioned a future where American football would flourish and create transformative opportunities for the nation.
Since its inception, NAFA has seen remarkable growth, with American football rapidly gaining presence across Nigeria, and we are looking to increase the number of our actively participating states in the nearest future. Our vision goes beyond the sport itself, aiming to provide educational scholarships, livelihood opportunities, and exposure to and integration of diverse cultures.
NAFA is driven by the HUDDLE way mantra, which embodies Health, Unity, Diversity, Development, Livelihood, and Entertainment. Our dedication lies resolutely in creating a thriving environment for American football and through that create sustainable pathways to continuously make a positive impact on young adults’ lives.
NSSFFL AT A GLANCE
American football is renowned for its challenging nature, especially when played outside the confines of an organized game, and it comes in two distinctive variants – tackle football and flag football. Tackle football, often considered the most difficult, involves physically tackling opposing players with a high barrier for entry stemming from the need for expensive equipment.
On the other hand, flag football offers a less physical approach, where tackles are replaced by pulling of flags attached to the ball carrier’s waist to stop their progress. Both variants require exceptional skills, strategy, and teamwork, but flag football is the recommended version for athletes who are just being introduced to the game. NAFA, as we have repeatedly mentioned, is an organization committed to grassroots development, so choosing to introduce flag football to our new athletes was the best way to go to guarantee rapid adoption, and this engineered the creation of the Nigerian Secondary School Flag Football.
The Nigerian Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL) has been one of our most transformative initiatives. The NSSFFL is intended for students in secondary schools (High School) between the ages of 12-18. The primary focus of the league is obtaining educational and sports scholarships for the winning teams and, if possible, spreading opportunities for the participating athletes as well.
From its inception to the end of Season 1, we witnessed the participation of 20 secondary schools, forming 40 teams and engaging a remarkable 840 students. NSSFFL has not only been a platform for the budding talents of our youth but has also provided scholarships in collaboration with Global Wealth University in Togo to 141 deserving athletes. In the first season of the NSSFL, a heartwarming documentary showcasing the growth, reach, and impact of flag football on the lives of young athletes was created. The evolving stories in that documentary are truly inspirational, and I would love to tell you all about them during this press conference, but it is better to self-experience it. The video is currently on our YouTube channel, Nigerian American Football Association.
ROLE OF THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
After conceiving and conceptualizing the idea of the NSSFL, we approached the Lagos State Government for partnership. We partnered with the Lagos State Government through their Sports Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the School Sport Directorate. The synergy worked in various ways and gave us the leeway and platform to access the athletes, facilities, and recruit game masters/mistresses to become coaches and referees, adding to the already existing but limited pool of human capital needed to drive the idea. These government bodies did not hold back their support; they have been deeply immersed in the execution of the NSSFL project from inception till date. Their support was crucial to the resounding success NSSFL Season 1 experienced last year. Their dedication to promoting sports and nurturing young talent has been instrumental in the growth of American football within Lagos State and beyond.
NSSFFL SEASON 2
The NSSFFL Season 2 commenced in May with great anticipation, showcasing exciting games in the preliminaries and embracing the inclusion of new states, elevating it to a multi-state spectacle. A total of seven states participated in the preliminaries, including Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Abuja, Akwa Ibom, and Osun. This season witnessed the active involvement of 75 secondary schools from these states, with over 2000 student athletes competing passionately. The preliminary games proved to be a captivating showcase of talent, leaving audiences enthralled with thrilling displays of skill and sportsmanship. As the competition unfolds, we eagerly look forward to witnessing the prowess and determination of these remarkable young athletes.
Season 2’s National Tournament is billed to be a great one with 8 teams representing 7 states converging in Ondo, the Sunshine State for 6 days of pure passion and energy. Season two is billed to take place between the 31st of July until the 5th of August at the Akure Township Stadium in Akure Ondo State and in the Spirit of the game, we have christened our National Championship game for the foreseeable future.
UNVEILING THE AKETI BOWL BRAND
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, today marks a momentous occasion as we proudly unveil our new brand, a culmination of all that we have achieved and experienced with the NSSFFL. This year’s national tournament is christened – AKETI BOWL in honor of our Chairman, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON. A visionary leader whose firm support has been the driving force behind this and many remarkable achievements the NSSFL and NAFA, in general, have experienced. The name Aketi Bowl signifies a symbol of excellence, conviction and determination in driving in the growth of American football in Nigeria. It epitomizes the unwavering aspirations and determination of our athletes to reach unparalleled heights in the sport. As we stand on the threshold of this exciting new chapter, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our chairman for his invaluable contributions, which have aided us in shaping the future of American football in our great nation. The Aketi Bowl will stand as a testament to his enduring legacy, and we are honored to have him lead us.
INTRODUCING JEFF OKUDAH AS BRAND AMBASSADOR
I also want to use this opportunity to announce the introduction of the JEFF OKUDAH Cup as a part of the NSSFFL Awards. The Jeff OKUDAH cup will be given to the Second Runner up of the NSSFFL. This is a significant milestone for us. Jeffrey Chidera Okudah (Jeff Okudah) is an illustrious American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League, and we are thrilled to announce that Jeff has joined the NAFA family as our brand ambassador. His remarkable achievements in both college and the NFL have not only made us extremely proud to be associated with him, but his involvement with us will continually be a pinnacle of inspiration to aspiring international athletes nationwide. His association with NAFA exemplifies the growing recognition and appeal of American football in Nigeria.
NAFA’S IMPACT
One of our most ambitious aspirations when we started was to integrate Nigeria and Africa with the National Football League (NFL) in America, along with other prominent American football organizations around the world. We envisioned that this would not only elevate the status of sport in our nation but also shine a spotlight on the immense talent and potential that our athletes possess.
NAFA has since become the thought leader and the dominant body for American Football in Nigeria especially with us being the only recognized body of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). We have also been engaged in progressive partnership discussions with the NFL. My team and I were in Nairobi, Kenya earlier to interact with NFL representatives and establish a sustainable, long term partnership.
Upstart Leagues like the Osi Umenyiora’s “The Uprise,” a talent-scouting and training program, along with a fully sponsored league for boys aged 15-20, drafted 10 of our athletes who participated in the first season of the NSSFFL. Umenyiora seeks to use his influence to uplift African youth by providing them with the opportunity to receive formal NFL training, and we are excited about this opportunity for our athletes and are looking forward to having more of them participate.
We are in advanced talks with our partner Gridiron Imports to identify top players eligible for high school scholarships in the United States, reaffirming our commitment to providing life-changing opportunities for young adults. Our passion for empowering the youth is evident in our endeavors, and what we haven’t highlighted yet is the impact of NAFA’s yearly training programs for the older generation.
We firmly believe in equipping individuals of all ages with skills that can transform their lives, and to achieve this, we host capacity development training every quarter. These comprehensive training sessions take place in several states across the country, offering opportunities for personal and professional growth. Over the course of three years, our efforts have yielded remarkable results, with a breakdown of field officials trained as follows: 55 in 2020, 200 in 2021, and an impressive 700 in 2022, culminating in a total of 955 skilled and empowered individuals.
NAFA’S FUTURE PLANS
Our journey does not end here. NAFA envisions university leagues that will further foster the growth of American football talent in Nigeria. Additionally, we are setting our sights on nurturing national teams that will represent Nigeria on the international stage, showcasing our potential to the world. We would also like to introduce tackle football. To accomplish our future goals and expand the horizons of American football in Nigeria, NAFA seeks to forge stronger partnerships with other prominent American football organizations. Together, we can create a future where American football thrives, and Nigerian athletes excel on the global stage.
Finally, we intend to engage more players in the NFL of Nigerian descent to partner with us in building up the game. We are creating new initiatives that will get them integrated and their impacts felt immediately.
This speech will not be complete without appreciating the key stakeholders in NAFA. So, to conclude, I extend my deepest gratitude to all our partners, sponsors, and supporters for their unwavering belief in our mission. Though I would love to list names, the list is endless. With your continued support and the indomitable spirit of our athletes, NAFA will continue to change lives and inspire the next generation of sports enthusiasts.
Thank you.