MindSKILLZ Launches in Nigeria with Focus on Disability Inclusion

Grassroot Soccer, in partnership with the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, is launching its award-winning MindSKILLZ program in Lagos, Nigeria for the first time — marking a major step forward in tackling the urgent youth mental health crisis.

Building on Grassroot Soccer’s 15+ years of impact in Nigeria alongside Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI), this two-year initiative will reach no fewer than 10,000 adolescents aged 10-19 in Lagos, including young people with disabilities, as well as parents, caregivers, and trained local mentors.

Co-created with young people in Africa, Grassroot Soccer’s MindSKILLZ program uses the universal language of soccer to break down stigma and open up conversations around mental health. Through a dynamic 10-session curriculum, participants learn practical tools to manage stress and anxiety, build resilience, and access support — both on and off the pitch.

Delivered by trained mentor Coaches, MindSKILLZ creates safe, inclusive spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and supported. By equipping non-specialists to deliver structured mental health education, the program will also address the critical shortage of mental health services in Nigeria.

With a strong focus on inclusion, MindSKILLZ in Nigeria will integrate innovative approaches to ensure young people with disabilities can fully participate in and benefit from the program’s activities — strengthening communities and empowering the next generation to thrive.

“Mental health is vital for young people in Nigeria,” says Andreas Eriksson, Secretary General of the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation. “Through sport, this project breaks stigma and builds resilience. We are proud to support Grassroot Soccer in making this change possible.”