NAFA, GEMS and Pads For Her Launch Initiative to Empower 1,500 Girls Across Nigeria
The Nigeria American Football Association NAFA, through its Gridiron Gems Initiative and in partnership with Pads For Her Initiative, has officially launched the GEMS Cluster Mentorship Programme alongside its 2026 Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign. The Sport for Development initiative will engage 1,500 girls across Lagos, Abuja, and Imo State through activities focused on mentorship, leadership, sports participation, and menstrual health education.
Built around the theme Mentorship, Leadership and Menstrual Health, A Holistic Approach to Developing the Girl Child, the programme combines mentorship sessions, leadership conversations, sports and wellness activities, menstrual hygiene education, community outreach, and sanitary pad distribution. Activities are scheduled to hold on June 11 in Lagos, June 18 in Abuja, and June 25 in Imo State, bringing together mentors, volunteers, educators, and community stakeholders.
The campaign also includes a pad drive aimed at providing sanitary pads, hygiene kits, educational materials, and welfare support for girls and young women. Through these interventions, the initiative seeks to address barriers that affect participation in education, sports, and everyday life while promoting confidence, dignity, health, and opportunity.
By combining sport, mentorship, and health education, NAFA, Gridiron Gems, and Pads For Her Initiative are creating pathways for personal development and community impact. The programme reinforces a shared commitment to ensuring that girls remain in school, stay active in sports, and have access to the support and resources needed to pursue their goals and aspirations.