In a country where football coaching remains largely dominated by men, Grace Towobola is rewriting the narrative and leading a new movement to empower women in the sport. A certified coach under both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Towobola has distinguished herself not only through her qualifications but also through her passion for using sport as a tool for social transformation.
With an academic background that includes a Master’s degree in Sport Coaching from the University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom, earned as a Chevening Scholar, Towobola has consistently shown that excellence in football is not gender-exclusive. She combines expertise with a fierce advocacy for gender equity in the football space, earning her a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most promising female football minds.
The Oyo State-based coach, soft-spoken but deeply determined, is the brain behind the Women’s Football Development Initiative (WFDI), a pioneering project supported by the International Olympic Committee’s Young Leaders Programme. Through WFDI, she is breaking longstanding barriers and creating space for young women to grow as professional football coaches, while also targeting girls in schools to see football as a viable and respectable career.
As a trained agricultural economist turned coach, Towobola’s journey into the football world began in 2017 at the University of Ilorin, where she volunteered her time to gain experience. Her passion led her to the semi-finals of the globally acclaimed World Remit Arsenal Coaching Programme in 2019. She would later serve under respected Nigerian coaches such as Imama Amapakabo at Abia Warriors and Fatai Osho at Enyimba FC, where she contributed to tactical analysis during the CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
Towobola also holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Ibadan, and during her NYSC year, gained hands-on experience at Remo Stars FC, helping guide the club’s U15 side to victory in the NPFL-LaLiga U15 tournament. Her impressive record speaks volumes, having coached in both Nigeria’s top league and at elite football institutions in the UK, including a stint with Manchester United Foundation and Preston North End Women’s Team.
Currently serving as the IOC Young Leader for Nigeria from 2023 to 2026, Towobola is championing WFDI’s mission through three flagship programmes – Coaches Leadership Training (CLT), the ASPIRE Project, and the WFDI Academy. CLT focuses on training women between the ages of 18 and 35 to become certified football coaches through a five-month hybrid course followed by a three-month internship. Already, 85 women have been trained, with some now employed as instructors and academy coaches. ASPIRE targets secondary schools, introducing girls to career opportunities in football, while the WFDI Academy helps female players stay in school and develop through sports.
In her role as Training Officer for the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) in Oyo State, Towobola has established the NFCA Oyo Education Department and now chairs the committee developing the state’s first 10-year technical blueprint – the NFCA Oyo DNA – to improve coaching standards and align the state with global best practices.
While acknowledging the challenges that hinder female participation in football, particularly in coaching, she lamented the vast gender disparity in the profession. According to her, Oyo State has over 500 registered male coaches but only seven women. She points to issues such as gender-based violence and parental fear as major deterrents, but believes that initiatives like WFDI are creating safe spaces and pathways for girls and women to thrive in football.
Towobola, who draws inspiration from her mother, a physical education teacher, said her dream to coach began at the age of 12 after reading a story about Sir Alex Ferguson’s role in Cristiano Ronaldo’s rise. That moment, she said, marked her journey to becoming a coach, despite the odds.
She continues to work closely with both local and international bodies including the International Olympic Committee, Women in Football UK, Manchester United, and the City Football Group, contributing to global conversations on equity and development in sports. Her outstanding voluntary work in sport recently earned her the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Gold Award under the Chevening programme.
Speaking passionately about WFDI, Towobola called on key stakeholders such as the Nigerian Football Federation, Nigeria Olympic Committee, and the Nigeria Women’s Football League to support the initiative. She appealed to public and private sector actors to provide funding and partnerships to expand the reach and impact of the programme.
According to her, the long-term goal is clear: a more inclusive football environment where female coaches are empowered to lead. “I am ambitious,” she said. “I look forward to the day a woman will coach the Super Eagles. That’s my dream. That’s what I live for – to prepare women coaches for that day. It might take time, but I am willing to give it everything it takes.”
For Grace Towobola, it is not just about coaching. It’s about creating a legacy and changing the face of football coaching in Nigeria – one woman at a time.
