At a time when Nigerian football continues to search for stronger grassroots structures and sustainable pathways for young talents, Chief Mrs. Raliat Anako Abdulsalam has emerged as one of the women quietly pushing the conversation forward through practical action.
With more than two decades of professional experience cutting across sports administration, business, finance, marketing and community development, Abdulsalam has increasingly become a prominent figure in the development of female football in Lagos, combining administration with direct investment in young players.
Her philosophy is clear: football development must go beyond organising competitions. It must create opportunities, provide education and mentorship, and give young players the environment they need to build sustainable careers.
That philosophy was evident when she chaired the Lagos State Football Association Female Football Development Committee, where she championed programmes designed to expose young girls to football, mentorship, financial literacy and sports management.
“This programme is more than merely coming out to play football,” Abdulsalam said during one of the committee’s girl-child development initiatives. “It is also planned to give our young girls several life-impacting programmes, including financial literacy and sports management.”
That statement perhaps best captures the thinking behind her approach to sports administration.
For Abdulsalam, developing female footballers is not simply about getting girls onto a football pitch. It is about equipping them with knowledge and opportunities that can remain valuable long after their playing careers.
From grassroots football to building her own platform
Her commitment to grassroots development also extends beyond administrative responsibilities.
Abdulsalam has been associated with Lekki Junior Strikers Academy, an initiative established to provide young footballers with an opportunity to develop their talents.
In an earlier interview, she explained that her motivation came from a desire to contribute to community development and give children opportunities through football.
That direct involvement gives her a perspective that goes beyond the boardroom.
It places her in a position where she can see first-hand the challenges confronting young players — from access to proper coaching and competition to education, exposure and the financial realities surrounding grassroots football.
Putting girls at the centre
One of the most visible expressions of her commitment to women’s football is the Raliat Anako Abdulsalam Foundation (RAAF) Lagos Female Unity Cup, which provides female players with an organised competitive platform.
The tournament has also attracted partnerships aimed at strengthening its impact, including collaboration with WHITEROSE Group, while the Lagos State Sports Commission and Lagos State Football Association have been involved in supporting the initiative.
Abdulsalam has consistently positioned such programmes as more than sporting events. They are opportunities for young women to compete, gain exposure, build networks and demonstrate their abilities.
Her approach is also reflected in the wider work of RAAF, whose activities have extended into community welfare, healthcare, education and support for vulnerable Nigerians. In 2021, the foundation provided food items and free medical services to more than 500 residents in Lagos. Abdulsalam described the initiative as part of her philosophy of making the world a better place by helping those in need.
A broader vision for women in sports
Abdulsalam’s work also speaks to a wider question confronting Nigerian sport: how can more women be positioned not only as athletes, but also as administrators, investors, organisers and decision-makers?
