DELIVERED BY NANCY DAMHINDI, PROGRAM COORDINATOR – GRIDIRON GEMS INITIATIVE AUGUST 25, 2025

Good Morning everyone,

On behalf of the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) and the entire Gridiron Gems Initiative team, I want to say thank you to the The Bemore Empowered Foundation for Girls for welcoming us into this space. It is an absolute honor to stand before you today at the convergence of two purpose aligned powerhouses of change with each committed to unlocking the limitless potential within every Nigerian Girl.

What is going to be happening here over the next couple of weeks is more than a camp. It’s a launchpad and we are honored to be part of it. The Gridiron Gems Initiative was born out of a bold dream conceived by the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) in partnership with Browns Nigeria, the local affiliate of the Cleveland Browns.

When we started Gridiron Gems, we began with a very clear question: Where are the girls in American football? We saw a sport fast growing in Nigeria, with thousands of young people engaged but very few girls had access. Not because they weren’t capable, but because these growing systems were not adequately planned for them.

And we are here to change that. Gridiron Gems is the gender inclusion pillar of the NAFA and Browns Nigeria partnership, and our mandate is direct:

• Get more girls on the field.
• Train more women as coaches and referees.
• Create systems that support girls to lead in sport, in life, and in their communities.

That is why we were thrilled when the opportunity arose to partner with Bemore, a program whose entire DNA is built around girl-centered empowerment. Just like you, we are committed to making sure girls have the tools to lead, the confidence to speak up, and the support to build lives they are proud of.

And so, we’ve brought American football here not just as a fun activity but as a leadership-building tool. There will be opportunities to participate in mini coaching clinics, learning the rules of the game, and hearing from women who are already making their mark on and off the field.

Now, I know most of you haven’t played American football before (we are all used to soccer) and that’s perfectly fine. Infact That’s actually the point, that is why we are here. Our goal is to introduce the sport to as many young women as possible and broaden your minds about what’s possible in American football and beyond.

So, whether you choose to become a player, a coach, a strategist, or a team organizer you’ll leave here knowing this: You belong anywhere you decide to show up. This partnership with Bemore is a practical step in our long-term vision. By 2030, we plan to:

• Engage over 150,000 girls in American football,
• Certify 10,000 female referees and coaches,
• Launch an all-star female league,
• Offer scholarships,
• And take Nigeria’s Women’s Flag Football Team to the Olympics.

Permit me to proudly say that this particular journey is already underway. Our women’s national team recently emerged as the number one women’s team in Africa at the International Federation of American Footballs’ (IFAF) African Championship Games held in Cairo, Egypt, in June of this year. This victory has earned them a place at the 2026 World Championship Games scheduled to take place in Germany.
We don’t believe in waiting for opportunities. We believe in creating them.

So for this camp, I want you to know that each session, each encounter, each new challenge is a critical moment you are shaping and not passively receiving. You were chosen to be here not just to feel inspired but to become the inspiration when you return home.

So, I want to ask you did you bring a journal to camp? I would like to believe we know what a journal is, and if you didn’t I encourage you to find a book you can journal all your experiences here outside of your lesson note. Take a moment and write this down: Who do I want to be when this camp ends? Because this camp experience is about gaining the relevant knowledge that will help you become.

My speech will not be complete without appreciating the stakeholders’ integral to the success of your being here. To Browns Nigeria, we thank you for believing in this vision, for standing with us in our mission to expand access, visibility, and opportunity for girls across Nigeria. Your partnership has made this possible.

And to the Bemore leadership thank you. It’s rare to find a partner so aligned in mission and execution. Together, we’re showing that sport is not a side activity. It’s an engine for growth, resilience, sisterhood, and identity.

I would also say to the Bemore leadership that – as we look to the future, we are excited about the possibilities that lie beyond the bootcamp. One of the areas we’re deeply committed to exploring is the Bemore Sisters Network—a powerful community of past participants of this very camp. We see this network as a natural extension of what Gridiron Gems stands for: mentorship, continued engagement, and lasting community impact. This is to ensure that the girls we are introducing American football to during this camp continue to be supported and encouraged to pass this new knowledge along to their fellow sisters. Because real empowerment doesn’t end when the camp closes it evolves, and it continues, through intentional spaces like the network.

To the parents who released their children to be a part of this experience; thank you.

Finally, to every bright eye girl here: Let today be your first step into something new. Be open. Be bold. Ask questions. Try. Fail. Try again. Remember, This isn’t about being perfect it’s about belonging. And you do.

Thank You.