Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade is making a positive impact off the pitch by leading health and personal hygiene education for aspiring female footballers through her Rash Hygiene Hub initiative.

The initiative is an offshoot of the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation, and over 600 young female footballers from different clubs in Lagos have been beneficiaries of hygiene kits and health education on and off the pitch.

The charge is to educate and provide grassroots female footballers with personal hygiene education and kits has taken place in three locations across the city.

The NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja held the third phase of the outreach on Saturday, where facilitators taught the participants about mental health, nutrition, personal hygiene, and first aid in a theoretical and practical session
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) under the guidance of members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other partners.

Rasheedat Ajibade said the initiative was birthed out of the need to tackle the challenges young female footballers, especially those from difficult backgrounds, face in the early stage of their careers.

“Grassroots female football is chronically under-resourced, and hygiene is deprioritised when families are focused on survival. This leads to compromised health, hygiene and confidence both on and off the pitch, and makes them feel that their dignity and wellbeing come second to their circumstances, rather than being seen first as girls who deserve care.”

One of the beneficiaries, Alitah Oyelade, a 17-year-old Goldenwealth Football Academy player, recounted her experience on Saturday.

“I have been playing football since I was 11 and I find this as an eye-opener. I have learned new things, and the CPR session is the biggest gain for me. I have heard about CPR, but I haven’t seen it in practice,” she said.

The foundation pledged to increase its outreach beyond Lagos

“Our ambition is national. We understand that this happens in stages, and that each stage must be delivered and evidenced before the next begins. We intend to replicate the Lagos model.”

“Every stage follows the same seven-step method set out: verify, register, map by travel corridor, deliver, reconcile, report, review. It is deliberately simple so we can reliably track its impact.”

“Our vision is to create a hub where female grassroots footballers who cannot afford basic hygiene products can access essential hygiene supplies and personal health education that supports their holistic well-being, empowering them to feel clean, confident and whole.”

Rasheedat Ajibade has consistently shown support in the development of young female footballers by donating kits, among other forms of support, over the years.