Arabinrin Aderonke Delivers Keynote Address at the 9th IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport

Arabinrin Aderonke, Founder / Executive Director of FAME Foundation for Girls and Women Empowerment, delivered a keynote address at the 9th IWG Global Summit on Women & Sport in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The three-day Summit took place from 9–11 July 2026 and brought together government officials, ministers, sport administrators, researchers, athletes, development practitioners and civil society organisations from across the world. The discussions centred on advancing gender equality in and through sport under the theme “Beyond the Breakthrough.”

Arabinrin Aderonke spoke during the Africa Continental Session on “Advancing Leadership, Governance and Unlocking Investment for Women and Sport in Africa.” Her presentation, “Investing in Women and Sport in Africa,” examined the role of deliberate investment in creating more opportunities for women and girls and strengthening sport as a tool for education, leadership, inclusion and sustainable development.

She called for stronger collaboration among governments, sports institutions, development partners and the private sector to increase investment in women and girls, improve access to quality sporting facilities, strengthen leadership pathways and remove barriers that continue to limit their participation.

The session featured speakers from across the continent, including Louisette-Renée Thobi, Secretary General of CONFEJES; Annick Lydie Djouma Pikbougoum Zingué Ouattara, Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment of Burkina Faso; Dr. Lombe Mwambwa (Zambia); Paulina Lanco (Kenya); Karima Messaoudi (Morocco); Mane Cantal Zeh Nko’o (Cameroon); Game Mothibi (Botswana); Juliette Waye-Hiv e (Seychelles); Nancy Njeri Waweru (Kenya); and other experts who examined leadership, governance, financing and regional cooperation for women and sport.

FAME Foundation also signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration during the Summit. The Declaration is an international framework that encourages governments and organisations to promote equal opportunities for women and girls in sport, increase women’s representation in leadership, and strengthen policies that support gender equality.

By signing the Declaration, FAME Foundation joins a growing global network of more than 700 organisations committed to advancing gender equity through policy, leadership, advocacy, and action. The commitment aligns with our work in using sport to promote gender equality, education, leadership, health, social inclusion, and the empowerment of women and girls across Nigeria. It also creates new opportunities to collaborate with international organisations and fellow signatories working towards the shared goal of making sport more inclusive, equitable, and accessible.

Beyond the conference sessions, delegates participated in workshops, networking events, research presentations and policy discussions covering safeguarding, media representation, investment, innovation, disability inclusion, governance and the contribution of sport to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Summit concluded with renewed calls for governments, sporting bodies and development partners to strengthen collaboration and accelerate action towards gender equality in sport.

For us, FAME Foundation, the experience offered an opportunity to contribute to these discussions, share perspectives from Nigeria, and build relationships that will support future programmes and partnerships.