Groundbreaking initiative kicks off with Southwest exhibition games to drive student-athlete development and institutional engagement
The Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) has launched the NAFA Collegiate Flag Football League, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at integrating Flag Football into tertiary institutions across Nigeria. As part of its pilot phase, NAFA will organize exhibition games across universities in Southwest Nigeria and subsequently other regions of the county, creating a live demonstration of how the sport can thrive within the academic environment.
This rollout marks a significant leap in NAFA’s mission to build a sustainable talent development system from grassroots to elite levels positioning Flag Football as a dynamic and accessible sport for university students nationwide.
Jesunifemi Tenten, Coordinator of the NAFA Collegiate League, explained:
“The NAFA Collegiate Flag Football League is a strategic move to create more opportunities for students and institutions across Nigeria. Through this initiative, we’re providing a platform for student-athletes to develop their skills, represent their schools, and gain access to professional pathways. It’s about building a system that benefits both the institutions and the athletes academically, athletically, and professionally.”
He added:
“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with key stakeholders in sports administration across tertiary institutions, including NUGA, NPUGA, and school sports departments, to ensure the league is sustainable, inclusive, and impactful.”
The upcoming exhibition games will serve as a practical showcase of Flag Football’s potential to energize school spirit, promote teamwork, and expand Nigeria’s sports culture. Participating institutions will help demonstrate the sport’s structure, engagement value, and capacity to compete alongside other major campus sports.
Lawrence Ojaideh, Secretary General of NAFA, highlighted the bigger picture:
“We have intentionally designed a forward-looking model that nurtures athletes as champions in the making. By laying a strong foundation in partnership with the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) and ensuring consistent engagement both in and out of school, we’re building a sustainable talent pipeline. Now, we are extending this same structure into the tertiary system through strategic collaborations with NUGA, NPUGA, and other key stakeholders.”
Babajide Akeredolu, President of NAFA, further emphasized:
“This university strategy aligns seamlessly with our overarching objective as an organization: to address the challenges and vulnerabilities confronting American Football, particularly in the realm of Flag Football. Since the establishment of NAFA in 2019, our guiding principle has been that opportunities should be inclusive and accessible across all levels of the sport. The university program, in partnership with national university sporting bodies, reinforces this vision by completing the talent development pathway—bridging our grassroots initiatives from the Under-13 and Under-17 levels through to the National Team.”
The initiative has earned endorsements from major institutional bodies overseeing tertiary sports in Nigeria:
Prof. Bawa Muhammed, President of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) noted:
“The introduction of Flag Football through this collegiate initiative is a welcome development. At NUGA, we are committed to expanding the range of competitive sports available to Nigerian students, and this program by NAFA provides an exciting new avenue for talent discovery, student engagement, and school representation. We look forward to seeing universities embrace this model and create more opportunities for their athletes.”
The President of the Nigerian Private University Games Association (NPUGA), Dr. Diyaolu Babajide added:
“One of the major challenges facing private universities in expanding sports programs is the limited availability of dedicated facilities. What makes Flag Football unique and very promising is that it can be played on existing soccer fields without the need for new infrastructure. This flexibility makes it an ideal sport for private institutions looking to introduce something fresh, engaging, and accessible for their students. NPUGA is open to working closely with NAFA wherever necessary to support and promote the growth of the sport across private universities.”
Universities, athletic departments, and sports coordinators interested in joining the upcoming exhibition games or participating in the full league rollout are encouraged to contact NAFA directly or register through the website www.nafa.ng/ncffl
About the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA):
The Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) is Nigeria’s only National body dedicated to growing the game of American Football. Established in 2019, its vision is to create opportunities through the game of American football and it achieves this through its mission mantra tagged “The HUDDLE Way” an acronym for Health, Unity, Diversity, Development, Livelihood and Entertainment. Since its inception, NAFA has hosted an array of programs dedicated to grassroots development which include its Capacity building initiatives with NFL Flag & NFL Africa and its Secondary School (High School) league in collaboration with the Nigerian School Sports Federation. To date, NAFA has introduced the game of American Football directly to over 10,000 young men and women in 18 States and over 300 schools and has led Nigeria to its first victory at the maiden Africa Continental Flag Football Championship games . NAFA is an Associate member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).
For more information, contact press@nafa.ng.