NAFA at the UN General Assembly
On 21 September 2026 NAFA convened “Africa Forward: Harnessing Sport for Inclusion, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Development” — an official side event of the 81st UN General Assembly at Nigeria House, New York, with the Cleveland Browns, NABU and AUDA-NEPAD.
Africa Forward · Forward · UNGA 81 · 21.09.26
Overview
Making the case for sport in Africa's development.
Africa Forward brought together UN agencies, Olympic and sport-for-development organisations, the NFL and the Cleveland Browns, and African Union partners to discuss how flag football and sport can drive inclusion and youth empowerment.
Two panels tied the conversation to the Sustainable Development Goals on health, education, gender equality and partnerships (SDGs 3, 4, 5 and 17), and to Agenda 2063's Aspiration 6 — an Africa whose development is driven by its people, especially its women and youth.
What it did
Programme
Keynote
Amb. Martin Adamu
Deputy Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, on behalf of the Permanent Representative, Sen. Jimoh F. Ibrahim.
Convenor's remarks
Babajide Akeredolu
NAFA.
Panels
Seven panellists, two panels
Nayeli Pozuelos (Cleveland Browns) · Maureen Rosita Ojong (IOC, Olympism365) · Melissa Martin Rountree (UN DESA) · Finlay Batts (UN Youth Office) · Sara McLaughlin (Laureus Sport for Good) · Nyiko Khoza (AUDA-NEPAD) · Ikenna Chris Ejimonyeugwo (RepForce Agency)
Goodwill messages
Partners and friends
Daniel Van Norton, NFL Director of Football Development · Camille Park, CEO, NABU Global · Margaret Olele · Charmaine Hayden
Partners
Browns Nigeria supported the event and joined the panel.
Children's publisher behind Jojo and the Winning Play.
African Union Development Agency.
Hosted the event at Nigeria House.
Panellists represented the UN Youth Office, UN DESA, the IOC's Olympism365, Laureus Sport for Good and RepForce Agency.
Media
Photos
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