The Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has unveiled two major October programmes aimed at strengthening girl-child empowerment, promoting women’s participation in sports and improving gender-sensitive reporting of Nigerian sports.

The initiatives, which will round off the Commission’s 2026 annual programme, include an International Day of the Girl Child celebration in Lagos and an Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for journalists in Abuja. 

The International Day of the Girl Child programme is scheduled for October 10 at the OlympAfrica Centre, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, while the three-day leadership training for journalists will hold in Abuja from October 22 to 24. 

The Commission said more than 100 adolescent girls from secondary schools across Lagos State are expected to participate in the girl-child programme, alongside young female athletes, coaches and stakeholders from the education, sports and advocacy sectors.

The initiative is themed “Her Voice, Her Future: Investing in Girls Through Sports and Education” and is designed to use sports and education as platforms for leadership development, confidence-building and personal empowerment.

According to the Commission, the programme will also promote school retention through sports while encouraging girls to embrace digital technology as a tool for learning, communication and future opportunities. 

The event will feature keynote and motivational sessions, mentorship activities and sporting events, with the launch of a “Her Voice” pledge expected to form part of the day’s activities.

NOC President, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, commended the Women Commission for placing girl-child empowerment at the centre of its programme, stressing the importance of combining education with sports.

“We believe that when you invest in a girl’s education and empower her through sports, you are not just educating one girl – you are giving her a voice to shape her own future.”

Gumel added that the “Her Voice, Her Future” theme should serve as a call to create environments where girls can learn, lead and thrive rather than face barriers that limit their educational and sporting opportunities. 

The Commission will then turn its attention to the media with its Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar, scheduled for Abuja from October 22 to 24.

Unlike previous editions, which were targeted specifically at female coaches, administrators and technical officials, the 2026 edition has been redesigned for journalists and will be open to both male and female media professionals. 

The decision reflects the Commission’s recognition of the media as a critical partner in shaping public perception of sports, increasing the visibility of female athletes and competitions, and promoting balanced coverage of women’s sports.

The seminar is expected to address contemporary sports reporting, leadership, media ethics, gender-sensitive journalism and practical approaches to improving coverage of girls’ and women’s sports.

By opening the programme to journalists irrespective of gender, the Commission hopes to create a wider network of media professionals capable of promoting more inclusive and responsible reporting across the Nigerian sports landscape.

The October programmes will therefore provide a fitting conclusion to the Commission’s 2026 calendar, while reinforcing its wider objective of using sports, education and media advocacy to empower girls and strengthen women’s participation and leadership in Nigerian sports. 

The Women Commission’s 2026 programme was built around three major initiatives, with the first—the Award for Pioneer Female Athletes covering 1965–1980—held on June 30 to recognise women who played pioneering roles in the development of Nigerian sports. 

The two remaining programmes in October will consequently extend that recognition and empowerment agenda from celebrating the achievements of women in sports to investing in the next generation and equipping the media to tell their stories more effectively.