We need men to push women's agenda - Oparanozie leads Super Falcons delegation at Ladies in Sports Conference

It was a full house at Balmoral Event Centre, Oregun, Lagos when the 10th edition of the Ladies in Sports Conference kicked off.

The Ladies in Sports Conference pioneered by renowned broadcaster and sport journalist Tega Onajaife is a platform to celebrate the success of women doing amazing things in the sports and an opportunity to give back and encourage female athletes to network, build capacity, give and receive mentorship for increased visibility.

The 10th edition was a two-day event held from Thursday, June 13th to Friday, June 14th and it was a gathering of amazing and brilliant women in sports.

Some of the big names at the event include former Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie, veteran goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, current midfield Christy Uchiebe, Remo Stars and NWFL topscorer Bolaji Olamide, and 2006 Triple Jump Commonwealth silver medalist Otonye Iworima.

Seasoned broadcasters and sports presenters present include Tennis guru Biola Solace-Chukwu, Latifah Adebayo-Ohio, Pulse Sports' Funmilayo Fameso, and many others.

The first day of the event also featured a special event for school children. Other highlights included panel sessions and fun activities for participants.

The convener of Ladies in Sports Conference Tega Onajaife said the 10th anniversary marks a new phase for the initiative as it would move beyond just conferences to invites-only round tables, certified courses for athletes, journalists, and facilitate high-level discussions between athletes, sponsors and industry leaders.

She also stressed that plans are already in motion to get funding into the hands of the athletes themselves, taking a leave from FIFA Club World Cup.

However, Tega decried the fact that women sports received poor coverage, lack of in-depth analysis — instead the focus is on the most beautiful/endowed female sports person rather than their delivery on the actual sports itself.

She quoted a study that revealed that only 14% of female athletes in the country get coverage despite the women's teams historically being more successful than their male counterparts.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the most successful women's team in Africa, and female athletes like Tobi Amusan and many others have continued to put Nigeria's name on the map, yet they don't get the recognition that their achievements deserve.

One of the panelists said the problem is borne from perception/cultural mindset towards women and that this needs to change. She also stressed that there are limited women in the press (especially senior editorial roles), so they don't control the narrative.

One of the participants noted that 'we need men to push the women's agenda," an idea many agreed with.

It was however noted that sports media coverage must be value-based and women shouldn't just demand visibility but must put in more effort because they are not as aggressive as men.

The key takeaway was that women's sports must be marketed differently and that women need to put in more effort because they are not typically as aggressive as men.

But in all it's a collective responsibility to find a strategy that makes people watch women's sports and must encourage men to push the women's agenda.

There were other exciting panel sessions on the Lagos Liga and how it was a massive success.

Super Falcons veteran goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi was also quizzed on Nigeria's preparedness for the upcoming WAFCON 2025 and she gladly shared her thoughts.

At the end of the two-day conference, the message is clear — if you have a seat on the table as a woman, make sure you create space for another woman on the table.