Adamawa Govt, NAFA Introduce Flag Football in Schools
From Umar Dankano, Yola
In a move to enhance youth participation in sports, the Adamawa State Government, in partnership with the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA), has introduced a new sport known as Flag Football in primary and secondary schools across the state.
The initiative, spearheaded by the State Ministry of Education and Human Development, is seen by sports analysts as a significant step in diversifying athletic opportunities and promoting emerging global sports in Adamawa.
Austin Ajayi, National Welfare Officer of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), described the development as a timely innovation capable of uniting young people and strengthening grassroots sports at both the primary and secondary school levels. He called for increased public awareness about the sport, especially among sports enthusiasts and stakeholders.
The official launch took place on Monday, June 16, 2025, at GMMC Yola Football Pitch 3, where students from selected schools participated in introductory training sessions.
Commissioner for Education and Human Development, Garba Umar Pella, expressed appreciation to NAFA for its support. Represented by Allen Abraham Alhassan, the State Desk Officer and Schools Sports Coordinator, Pella assured that the Flag Football program would be expanded to all public schools in the state.
Sporting equipment for the game was handed over to the Commissioner’s representative by Coach Tobi Abe of NAFA for immediate distribution and use.
Director of Sports, Mr. Julius Christopher, explained that Flag Football is a non-contact version of American football where players aim to remove a flag from their opponent’s waist instead of tackling—making it a safer alternative for school-age players.
According to Christopher, the sport, introduced by NAFA—a Lagos-based organization—is part of a broader coaching tour across northern Nigeria, including stops in Bauchi, Kano, and Adamawa.
He commended the students’ enthusiasm and improvement between the first and second days of training, describing it as a positive sign for both students and physical education teachers.
One NAFA team member said the organization’s goal is to raise awareness and encourage more Nigerian children to take up Flag Football, potentially even as a career. “Currently, most kids aspire to play football or basketball because they are more familiar. But Flag Football offers huge opportunities and is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide,” he said. “Adamawa is fortunate to be part of this activation.”
According to our correspondent, secondary schools that participated in the under-17 training session included General Murtala Mohammed College (GMMC) Yola, GDSS Wuro Hausa, GDSS Yolde Pate, and Government Science and Technical College (GSTC) Yola. For the under-12 category, Demsawo Primary School and Old GRA Primary School took part.
Participating students expressed excitement and were actively involved throughout the training sessions.
