On January 22, 2025, the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) marked a new chapter as the Cleveland Browns, through their Nigerian operation BROWNS Nigeria announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at expanding the growth and development of American football at the grassroots level. This collaboration was made possible through the National Football League (NFL)’s Global Markets Program, which granted the Browns official marketing rights in Nigeria.
This partnership was built on the recognition that Nigeria holds a significant place in the global football community, with the highest representation of non-American minority groups in the NFL tracing their roots back to the country. Several Cleveland Browns players including David Njoku, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Roy Mbaeteka, and Germain Ifedi are of Nigerian descent. In addition, American football is one of the fastest-growing sports across Africa, with Nigeria emerging as a key hub for development. This momentum is being driven by the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) and regional camps, many of which are spearheaded by former NFL player and Nigerian native, Osi Umenyiora.
The partnership focuses on five key areas: grassroots football development, coaching and training support, talent pipeline development, community engagement and cultural exchange, and gender inclusion. It is on this fifth pillar —gender inclusion— that NAFA and Browns Nigeria launched their flagship women’s initiative: THE GRIDIRON GEMS INITIATIVE.
The initiative was officially launched in April 2025 in Lagos, featuring dynamic panel discussions with distinguished speakers such as Awasum Junior, Continental Chairperson of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF); Nayeli Pozuelos and other representatives from the Cleveland Browns; Adesuwa Imasekha, Founder of Women Impacting Nigeria (WIN); Debbie Larry-Izamoje, CEO of Brila Media Group; Cecilia Akintomide, Chairperson of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund; Rinsola Abiola, Director General of CLTC; and Chief Dr. Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, among others. The panels explored critical themes including skill development and leadership for women, health and diversity, life beyond the field, women’s empowerment, the importance of male allies in the sports industry, and strategies for amplifying women’s voices through visibility and innovation.
NAFA’s President, Babajide Akeredolu noted during the launch that, “Gridiron Gems is our commitment to ensuring every girl has the chance to be seen, heard, and celebrated on and off the field. We are creating an environment where women can lead, excel, and shape their own narratives through sport.
This effort represents an investment in the future, built around flag football and also in leadership, equity, and national development. Our program beneficiaries will include players, coaches, and referees, who will serve as pioneers in their respective roles.”
The Gridiron Gems Initiative is guided by an ambitious five-year strategy (2025–2030) designed to scale its impact and solidify the presence of women in American football across Nigeria and beyond. Key goals include:
- Empowering 250 girls to step into leadership roles within their communities and across the sports ecosystem.
- Establishing 50 grassroots-led initiatives nationwide to drive local ownership, visibility, and sustainability of the sport.
- Sponsoring the Nigerian Women’s Flag Football National Team to represent the country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28).
- Expanding the program to neighboring African countries, strengthening regional inclusion and collaboration.
- Actively engaging 150,000 girls in American football through school competitions, development camps, and inclusive clinics.
- Training and certifying 10,000 female referees and coaches, building a gender-diverse technical pipeline for the sport.
- Providing scholarships for 1000 girls, both locally and internationally, through strategic partnerships aimed at unlocking educational and athletic opportunities.
By aligning resources, expertise, and vision, Gridiron Gems, NAFA, and the Browns Nigeria are building more than football programs, they are building futures. For Nigerian youth, especially young girls, this initiative represents a chance to discover their voice, their power, and their place in the world of sports.
Since its official launch, Gridiron Gems has made significant strides in advancing women’s participation and leadership in American football across Nigeria:
- Hosted targeted coaching clinics to equip local coaches and athletes with the technical skills and knowledge required to grow the sport at the grassroots level. The coaching clinic impacted 120 participants.
- Sponsored the Nigerian Women’s Flag Football Team, enabling them to represent the country at the IFAF Africa Championship in Egypt—where they emerged as continental champions in the female category. The team will now go on to represent Africa at the IFAF World Championship in Germany in 2026.
- Signed Brila Media Group as its official media partner, strengthening the initiative’s visibility and public engagement. Brila’s media has a reach of over 1.7 million subscribers across all their social media platform.
- Forged strategic partnerships with key stakeholders including Alles Charis Group and Stretford Hill Ltd, to expand program reach and deepen impact.
- Hosted a two-day webinar for women athletes focused on personal branding, leadership, and life beyond the game, empowering participants to lead both on and off the field. 95 participants were impacted virtually.
- Partnered with Hope Behind Bars Africa to introduce American flag football to girls at the Special Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi-Araba — making it the first sport ever introduced in the facility, a powerful tool for rehabilitation and empowerment and 50 girls were empowered.
- Partnered with the Bemore Empowered Foundation to train over 50 girls in ICT, solar panel installation, baking, public speaking, and—most notably—introduced them to American football for the first time.
These milestones highlight Gridiron Gems’ commitment to growing inclusive pathways for girls and women in Nigerian football. By blending global expertise with local passion, the initiative is shaping a new era of American football one that champions inclusion, nurtures talent, and unlocks lasting opportunities.
Nayeli Pozuelos, Coordinator, Cultural and Grassroots Marketing, Cleveland Browns said,“ This is a groundbreaking program for girls and women of all ages to step into the game, build their confidence, and showcase their talents.”
This initiative affirms that American football is not just about running plays and touchdowns – it is about building leaders, strengthening communities, and inspiring a generation to dream beyond boundaries. Gridiron Gems has begun tracking key impact metrics like the growth of female participation in the secondary and university leagues, the successes of coaching clinics and webinars, and the impact of women-focused initiatives such as brand-development workshops and partnerships with other development organizations. These measurable outcomes ensure that every milestone is not just celebrated but used to refine and strengthen future programs.
Nancy Damhindi, NAFA’s Legal Representative and Program Coordinator, emphasized, “Gridiron Gems is more than a sport—it’s a movement.” She added, “We are committed to continuously monitoring and evaluating our progress to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.”
The initiative is poised to build on its momentum for the rest of the year. Communities can expect expanded grassroots football clinics, deeper engagement with women athletes, and leadership-focused training sessions that go beyond the field. With the continued support of Browns Nigeria and the amplified visibility from our Brila Media campaign, Gridiron Gems’ story will reach even more hearts inviting participation and drawing in partners who believe in flag football as a powerful tool for empowerment.
Together, Gridiron Gems, NAFA, and Browns Nigeria are not just growing the game they are driving a movement rooted in transformation, accountability, and opportunity for Nigerian youth and women athletes.
