Watching groundbreaking female athletes like Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade break records in the sports world is extraordinary. But beyond their athletic prowess, these remarkable women are dedicated to creating positive change in their communities with their philanthropic efforts.
From championing education to advancing healthcare initiatives, here’s how these inspiring role models leverage their influential platforms to make a positive impact beyond sports:
Asisat Oshoala
In 2015, Barcelona’s standout player founded the Asisat Oshoala Foundation in Lagos State to uplift underprivileged girls. By providing scholarships, educational resources, and mentorship, the foundation empowers disadvantaged girls to achieve their dreams.
In 2017, the renowned footballer started the Asisat Oshoala Academy in Lagos to nurture and prepare the next generation of Nigerian female footballers. The academy discovers, develops, and elevates its football abilities to a global standard. The Academy also organises the yearly Asisat Oshoala Foundation “Football4girls” competition in Lagos to showcase emerging football stars, including Ajibade.
Beyond the pitch, Oshoala is a vocal advocate for cancer awareness. She is committed to public health initiatives centred on early detection and treatment.
Chioma Ajunwa
Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, the first Nigerian female Olympic gold medalist, established the Chioma Ajunwa-Opara Foundation in 2017 to nurture young Nigerian athletes. Through scholarships, youth empowerment initiatives, and the Secondary Schools Under-16 Athletics Championship co-organised with Abia State. The foundation empowers aspiring young athletes to reach their full potential.
Ajunwa-Opara campaigns against illegal drug use in sports, financing and delivering several speeches in workshops and seminars during the interactive session organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in 2010. The former athlete also continues to lend her voice to the fight against doping, especially for Nigerian athletes.
Simidele Adeagbo
It is safe to say that 2018 was the year of Simidele Adeagbo. In one year, she became Nigeria’s first Winter Olympian and the first African and Black woman to compete in the winter sliding sport, skeleton. But she didn’t stop there. Determined to ensure that the path she forged would be accessible to future generations of female athletes, Adeagbo established the SimiSleighs Foundation two years later. The foundation is focused on creating more opportunities for marginalised female athletes within the Olympic and Paralympic movement, thus inspiring all girls to reach their full potential through the power of sports.
Rasheedat Ajibade
Renowned Super Falcons star Rasheedat Ajibade has the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering and inspiring young children in Nigeria. Born out of a profound commitment to giving back to society, the foundation addresses various challenges that youth and girls face by providing mentorship, scholarships, and support in sports, education, and beyond.
She showed how much she was committed to her community, Mushin, and grassroots football, when she generously donated football boots and gear to the community, providing young girls with the necessary resources to pursue their dreams.
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Ajibade dedicated a year to collecting football boots from her former and current teammates, like Ludmila Silva, Hedvig Lindahl, and Virginia Torrecilla, to help girls in her community. Having grown up in the same community, Ajibade understands the transformative power of football and aims to support the next generation of talented footballers who may struggle to afford the necessary equipment.
By giving back to their communities, these athletes build enduring legacies far beyond their athletic achievements. Their selfless actions address critical social issues and inspire future generations of athletes to do the same.
