Hon. Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf, Chairman of Surulere Local Government, has launched Rugby Rising Play, a groundbreaking program aimed at increasing female participation in rugby across Lagos State.
The initiative, developed by World Rugby, is the first custom-designed program tailored to encourage and retain teenage girls in the sport. In Surulere, four secondary schools have been selected to participate in the program:
1. New Era Girls Secondary School
2. Clegg Girls High and Junior School
3. Gbaja Girls High and Junior School
4. STC Secondary School
Rugby Rising Play has kicked off in schools across Nigeria, with more than 1,000 girls participating in the first week alone.
The program is set to reshape the landscape of female rugby in the country, providing young girls with opportunities to develop their skills and build confidence through sports.
For one of the program’s key advocates, this initiative holds personal significance.
A former football player for Surulere Local Government’s U-15 team, they expressed their excitement about rediscovering their roots through sports development, particularly with the support of the local government chairman.
With the backing of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (@nigeriarugby) and key stakeholders, Rugby Rising Play is set to make a lasting impact, fostering a new generation of female rugby players in Nigeria.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.