Gridiron GEMS Launches Mentorship, Menstrual Health Drive for 1,500 Girls in Nigeria
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
The girls’ empowerment initiative of the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) Gridiron GEMS, has launched a nationwide mentorship and menstrual health programme aimed at empowering 1,500 girls across Nigeria through sports, leadership development, and hygiene support.
The initiative, unveiled on Thursday in Lagos, introduces a Cluster Mentorship Programme alongside a PadForHer Drive, combining structured mentoring, sports-based learning, and menstrual health interventions targeted at girls in underserved communities.
Organisers said the programme will run across Lagos, Abuja, and Imo State, focusing on school-based activations and community outreach designed to improve confidence, leadership skills, and access to basic menstrual hygiene products.
Under the initiative, participating girls will be paired with mentors drawn from education, sports, media, entrepreneurship, wellness, and community development sectors. The mentorship network is expected to provide ongoing guidance beyond the initial engagement sessions.
Speaking at the launch, Nancy Damhindi, Vice President (Administration) and Coordinator of Gridiron GEMS, said the programme was designed to address both development and dignity needs among young girls.
“Gridiron GEMS is not just about sports. It is about helping girls discover their voice, build confidence, develop leadership skills, and access opportunities that can shape their future,” she said. “Through mentorship and menstrual health support, we are creating a pathway that allows girls to show up fully, dream boldly, and participate without limitations.”
As part of the PadForHer Drive, organisers said sanitary kits will be distributed to beneficiaries in low-income and hard-to-reach communities, including Makoko in Lagos. Each kit contains sanitary pads, roll-on, sanitary towels, educational materials, bags, and affirmation cards aimed at reinforcing self-esteem and menstrual hygiene awareness.
The programme also includes interactive education sessions on menstrual health, myth-busting discussions, leadership workshops, and confidence-building activities. Organisers said introductory flag football sessions would also be used to encourage teamwork, discipline, and resilience among participants.
According to Gridiron GEMS, the initiative is structured as a Sport for Development (S4D) intervention that uses athletics as a tool for social change, particularly in addressing barriers that prevent girls from fully participating in education and leadership opportunities.
The organisation said it is seeking partnerships with corporate organisations, development agencies, foundations, and individuals to support the expansion of the programme through funding, donations of hygiene products, and mentorship participation.
Gridiron GEMS operates as the girls’ empowerment arm of the Nigerian American Football Association, using sports, mentorship, and community-based programmes to expand opportunities for young women across Nigeria.
