The association's President, Dr Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko, said former athletes would use their experience and achievements to inspire younger generations and encourage girls to pursue sporting careers alongside education and other professional ambitions.

Aluko disclosed this during a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, November 12, ahead of the association's maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled for Saturday, November 14.

She explained that the initiative would involve former athletes visiting schools, introducing pupils to different sporting disciplines and identifying promising talents for continued mentorship and support.

According to her, many members of the association were discovered through school sports programmes, making educational institutions an important starting point for identifying the next generation of Nigerian female athletes.

She also emphasised the need to make retired sportswomen more visible so that young girls and their parents could recognise the opportunities available through sports while understanding that athletic careers can coexist with education, family responsibilities and other professional interests.

Aluko described the initiative as part of the association's responsibility to give back to the country and contribute to the development of young people through sports.

Other members also expressed their commitment to the programme, saying the association would provide a platform for former athletes to reconnect and contribute their knowledge to the future of Nigerian sports.

One of the members, Bolanle Popoola, said AFFAN had helped bring together former national athletes who had become disconnected after leaving active competition.

Popoola, who recalled representing Nigeria from 1965 and winning championships for six consecutive years, spoke about the difficult conditions experienced by athletes of her generation.

She recalled receiving only five shillings as pocket money during her competitive years and described instances when athletes had to wait until subsequent competitions before receiving outstanding allowances.

She urged the media to give greater attention to former athletes and their contributions, noting that their achievements and experiences should not be forgotten after retirement.

Popoola also disclosed that former sportswomen had started organising competitions involving younger participants, including an event recently held in Abuja.

AFFAN, established in 2018, was created to address challenges confronting female athletes after retirement, particularly limited welfare support, reduced public recognition and inadequate opportunities to remain involved in sports development.

Aluko said the association had grown to more than 300 members nationwide, with programmes focused on improving the welfare of retired athletes, promoting skills acquisition and entrepreneurship, and supporting their transition into coaching, administration and sports governance.

The association received formal recognition from the National Sports Commission in August 2025 as a stakeholder in the governance structure of national sports federations. The recognition also provided for AFFAN representation on federation boards, creating opportunities for former female athletes to contribute to sports administration and policy development.

Aluko called on retired female athletes across Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to join the association through their respective state chapters.

As part of activities marking the maiden AGM, AFFAN scheduled recreational and sporting engagements for its members on Friday, November 13. The programme includes aerobics, basketball, table tennis and arm-wrestling activities at facilities around the National Stadium in Lagos.

The activities will culminate in the association's maiden AGM on Saturday, November 14, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Sports Bar.

Aluko said the meeting would provide an opportunity to review the association's progress, strengthen its administrative structure, address existing challenges and establish priorities for its next phase of development.

She also appealed to government institutions, corporate organisations, sports federations and development partners to support AFFAN's programmes.

The association maintains that former athletes can continue contributing meaningfully to national development long after their competitive careers have ended, particularly through mentorship, grassroots talent discovery and sports administration.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia