American Football Elite Development (AFEDEV) has announced plans to expand American football across Nigeria through a youth academy, a competitive tackle league, wheelchair and flag football programmes, and a technology platform for identifying and tracking athletes.
The organization announced the initiative at a press conference, with Founder and Vice President of American Football, Lawrence Ojide, saying the programmes are designed to create more opportunities for athletes while promoting inclusion and higher standards in the sport.
AFEDEV will officially begin its rollout on Sept. 10, when four teams compete in an exhibition game at the Nigeria Institute for Sports basketball court in Lagos.
The organization says its three core programmes will cover traditional American football, flag football and wheelchair American football.
The AFEDEV Academy will focus on identifying and developing young talent, while the Elite Athletes Identification and Development System, or EAIDS, will track player performance and support scouting and the drafting process.
Ojide said Nigeria’s large population and athletic talent give the country strong potential to embrace the sport.
“We are not just announcing an upcoming exhibition game; we are unveiling a bold, comprehensive vision for the future of American football in Nigeria,” he said.
According to Board Member and Chief Technology Officer Josiah Onu Orie, the Tackle League will operate with standardized officiating and professional team management, while prioritizing player safety and international standards.
The multi-million-naira EAIDS platform will rank players using standardized scoring metrics, recommend specialized training and maintain video libraries for scouting purposes.
Board Member Princess Nina Agwuna, who presented the wheelchair programme as a flagship initiative, called for greater inclusion of athletes with disabilities.
“Sports must be accessible to all. Determination and passion transcend physical boundaries,” she said.
AFEDEV says it will work with sponsors, coaches and other partners to build sustainable structures that can support Nigerian athletes and grow the sport over the long term.
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