Kicking Off Change: My Journey Using Football to Empower Young Sexual Minorities in Rural Nigeria

GFAN Speaker Ogechukwu Eudora uses football to mobilize young sexual minorities in rural Nigeria, creating safe spaces for empowerment and connection. Read on to know more about their amazing work.

In Nigeria, many young sexual minorities live in the shadows—isolated, disconnected, and marginalized. For too long, they’ve faced discrimination, a lack of information, and little access to services that could help them live authentically and confidently. But I’ve always believed in the power of community, and I’ve found that football—the universal language of connection—can be the spark that brings people together.

Through a series of football tournaments and workshops, I’ve been able to mobilize young community members in these rural areas, creating safe spaces where they can connect, grow, and support each other. More than just a game, football has become a tool for building community, empowerment, and access to vital services like information about the Global Fund and how young people can engage with it.

For me, the importance of this work is deeply personal. Through these football matches, I see young people who were once invisible, now standing tall and proud in their communities. Anita, one of the participants, told me after a match, “It is always very hard for us to identify each other, making us feel alone, but this competition has brought me closer to my community.”

That’s what keeps me going—knowing that through this work, we are chipping away at the barriers that keep us apart.

But beyond just creating spaces for support, we’re equipping these young people with vital knowledge. Abasifreke, another participant, is now considering joining the Global Fund Youth Council after learning about it through our program. Equipped with the information I shared about my experience as a Youth Council member, they said, “I am sure I will apply to be a member of the Youth Council, as this will give me opportunities to contribute to decision-making spaces.” Seeing others inspired to step into leadership roles is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.

Through football, I’ve seen so many come alive, realizing they aren’t alone. Mercy, another participant, said, “I have lived with the fear of the unknown, but knowing I have a community, and we are connected together, we can unite to fight for our rights.” These moments of empowerment and connection fuel my commitment to making sure young community members in my country know they are seen, heard, and valued.

It’s not just about the matches—it’s about what happens off the field. My team and I focus on:

• Community mobilization: We’re bringing young people together to build stronger networks of support.
• Access to essential services and accurate information: We’re connecting participants with critical resources on health, rights, and opportunities like those from the Global Fund.
• Capacity building and leadership development: We’re helping young people find their voice and step into leadership roles in their communities.
• Creating safe spaces for support: The football field becomes a sanctuary, a place where they can truly be themselves without fear.

This journey, for me, is about more than the game. It’s about empowerment, inclusivity, sure! but most importantly, resistance—fighting against the discrimination and stigma that have held so many back for so long. And it’s about celebration—celebrating the beauty of our diversity and the resilience of the human spirit.

The need to build safe spaces and create opportunities for young people to express themselves, access services, and grow into leaders is something we must work toward every day. Together, we’re kicking off a brighter, more inclusive future—one match at a time.