Lagos, Nigeria – United Through Sports (UTS) is proud to announce the participation of our CEO, Julia Govinden, in the Ladies in Sport Conference 2024, organized by Ladies In Sport International, an NGO dedicated to advancing the role of women in sports through advocacy, education, and community support for current and future female athletes and to inspire the next generation of women to pursue their dreams in sports.
Held from June 5th to 7th in Lagos, Nigeria, this year’s conference celebrated the achievements of women in sports, providing a platform for industry leaders, athletes, and enthusiasts to celebrate and promote the achievements of women in sports, whilst sharing a message of empowerment and inclusion for women through sports.
The conference had a diverse lineup of speakers, panel discussions, and workshops focused on empowering female athletes, advancing equality in sports, and inspiring women in sports.
Julia Govinden joined the panel themed “Diversity And The Right To Play,” alongside Folasade Oluwafemi-Ayo, a professional athlete and Paralympic gold medalist. They discussed strategies for creating inclusive environments and raising awareness to support women in sports. UTS CEO shared her experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities in the sports industry, drawing from her extensive experience and the impact achieved with United Through Sports.
Julia Govinden said:
“The action taken by LIS International under the vision of Mrs Tega Onojaife showcased not only the need to keep working towards more inclusive societies, but also the progress being made internationally. Through a growing network of organizations dedicated towards ensuring the 1.8 billion people with disabilities are not left on the sidelines of society, we are taking big steps forward together. To see the women of Nigeria and beyond uniting and supporting one another towards success, is a testament towards a future where we can truly all prosper, through sports.”
Other panels at the conference included topics: “Building An Inclusive Sports Industry“, “Content Creation and Building Brands Through Storytelling“, “Women’s Football Development: Breaking a 16-Year Jinx” and “Your Career and You“. These sessions featured industry leaders, professional athletes, sports directors, and business executives, sharing a their knowledge, experience and inspiring all attendees.
During the event, Tega Onojaife, Ladies In Sport International Founder, emphasized the importance of such events in highlighting the achievements and addressing the challenges faced by women in the sports industry.
Tega Onojaife said:
“Women’s sport has grown exponentially in recent years. From breaking the record number of TV viewership by the Women’s college basketball in ESPN coverage of the NCAA to the record number of people who watched the last FIFA Women’s World Cup both at the stadiums and on Television. However, we need to position ourselves as Women better to harness and expand this growth consistently inorder to gain gender equality in popularity and investments. It is with this in mind that we set the theme “Expanding the business” so that the growth is inclusive, diverse and long-term.”
The event concluded with a shared commitment to continue advocating for positive change and inclusivity in the sports industry, with plans already underway for the Ladies in Sport Conference 2025, promising even more opportunities for learning, networking, and empowerment.
UTS is honored to have been a part of this inspiring event and looks forward to continuing our work in advocating for inclusion and more opportunities for women and girls through sport.
Learn more about Ladies In Sport International
