The Gridiron Gems Initiative, a women-led project under the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), has honoured Coach Blessing Suleiman of the FCT Department of School Sports with a special award for her “outstanding contributions to grassroots flag football development in Nigeria.”
The recognition, presented during a recent flag football event in Abuja, celebrates Coach Suleiman’s dedication to nurturing young athletes and expanding the sport across schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking shortly after receiving the award, an emotional coach expressed gratitude and surprise at the honour.
She said: “I’m so happy and excited about this recognition. Honestly, I didn’t expect it. I was just doing my work, trying to impart knowledge and values in children. But being recognised by the Gridiron Gems Initiative means a lot to me.”
Blessing highlighted her vision to extend flag football training across all six FCT area councils, beyond its current base in the AMAC area.
She added, “We envision a future where we can host inter-area tournaments and have our athletes represent Nigeria internationally. With government support, especially in infrastructure and logistics, we can discover more young talent and nurture future champions.”
She also called for improved sports facilities across satellite towns like Jikwoyi, Nyanya, and Kubwa, stressing that functional sports infrastructure is “the foundation of any strong sports culture.”
In her remarks, the Programme Coordinator of the Gridiron Gems Initiative, Nancy Damhini, said that the award reflects the group’s commitment to celebrating passionate and selfless coaches driving sports development from the grassroots.
She said: “We want people to know that there is dignity and opportunity in sports. Coach Blessing started as a learner but has now trained over 40 secondary school teams. That’s the kind of impact we want to highlight, how dedication can transform lives and communities.”
She added that the Gridiron Gems Initiative, launched under NAFA in partnership with the Cleveland Browns through Browns Nigeria, has trained over 1,000 coaches and referees nationwide since 2019.
Also speaking at the event, the captain of Team Nigeria Flag Football, Hayes Obinna Uzoh, described the sport as one of the fastest-growing globally, especially after its inclusion in the Olympics.
He said: “Nigeria is the face of the game in Africa, we are the current African Continental Champions (2025). Our focus is on grassroots development, and we’re working with schools, universities, and communities to grow the sport further.
“We are working towards establishing a recognized Federation soon. NAFA has been doing a fantastic job targeting schools across all six zones.”
He noted that NAFA plans to establish a recognized national federation and integrate flag football into Nigeria’s National Sports Festival.
In his remarks, the Senior Energy Operations Analyst at Alles Charis Gas Limited, Favour Oresanya, commended NAFA’s progress, describing the company’s five-month partnership with the association as a step toward empowering youth through sports.
He said: “We saw their vision and tapped into it because it aligns with ours, empowering young people and elite athletes. If NAFA can achieve this much in five months, the next ten years will be transformative.”
