Controversy as NWFL Chairperson Nkechi Obi Resigns After Transformative Tenure

Posted : 01 July 2025

Controversy surrounds the resignation of Nkechi Obi, Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), who stepped down after a transformative two-year tenure. Her decision, conveyed in a letter to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), follows the expiration of her board’s term.

While some observers expected the NFF to initiate the transition, Obi took the initiative, making what is believed to be the first formal, structured handover in the history of Nigerian football administration. Her resignation included a comprehensive stewardship report—an unprecedented move that has drawn both admiration and debate.

Obi’s leadership, beginning mid-2023, is widely regarded as one of the most progressive eras in the NWFL’s 33-year history. In her resignation letter dated June 30, 2025, she outlined achievements that reshaped the women’s football ecosystem in Nigeria.

Under her guidance:

The Premiership League expanded from 14 to 20 clubs (from the 2025/26 season).
The Championship League doubled from 12 to 20 clubs.
The Nationwide League was restructured into a States League, set to kick off in August 2025 with over 150 teams across 30 states.

Obi attributed this to the success of the “Women’s Football Rising” campaign, which aimed to increase registered female footballers from 450 in 2023 to over 5,000 by the end of 2025.

Obi's board secured live broadcast of all NWFL Premiership Super 6 matches in 2024 and 2025, a first in Nigerian women’s football. Championship games were also streamed live, enhancing local and global visibility.

These efforts led to:

Doubling of digital followership on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.
The league's debut on LinkedIn, which attracted corporate engagement.

When Obi took over in 2023, the league was ₦25 million in deficit. By 2024, this had turned into a ₦3 million surplus, with projections for further growth.

Highlights:

The 2025 Super 6 Tournament was privately sponsored—a historic first.
Privately owned clubs in the Premiership increased from two (2023) to five (2025), signaling growing investor confidence.

Player welfare improved significantly under Obi:

The minimum wage rose from ₦30,000 to ₦80,000.
More NWFL players were selected for the Super Falcons, Falconets, and Flamingoes, strengthening Nigeria’s global standing.

Nigeria’s return to the CAF Women’s Champions League, with Bayelsa Queens competing, was another milestone.

Despite her resignation, Obi has:

Directed the Chief Operating Officer to prepare full handover documents.
Ensured financial reports are ready for the incoming board.
Confirmed preparations for the States League and final Championship fixtures are underway.

In her closing remarks, she called on the NFF Executive Committee to quickly reconstitute a new board:

“As we bow out, I am proud of what we accomplished together. We’ve built a foundation I hope future boards can build on.”

Her departure marks the end of a truly transformative chapter in Nigerian women’s football, one defined by innovation, structure, and an unprecedented rise in professionalism.

Controversy as NWFL Chairperson Nkechi Obi Resigns After Transformative Tenure

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