Sport

Ogun FA Enlists Sports Writers’ Support for Football Development

By Web News 684

The Chairman, Ogun State Football Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi has called for the support of Sports writers in the state towards ensuring sports development and progress of the association. 

Alhaji Majekodunmi who is also Executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said as partners in progress, promotion of all football related activities in the state would further enhance the reputation of the state at national events.

The FA boss assured the Sports writers of his support at ensuring SWAN members in the state partake at every football event organize by NFF. 

He expressed confidence in the new SWAN executives led by Hakeem Akintunde, urging all members of the association to support the new exco. 

Earlier, the SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde commended the Football Association in the state for hosting various football development programmes. 

Alhaji Akintunde urged NFF to disburse the $30,000 dollars of the CAF/FIFA Covid-19 palliative for SWAN to each state chapter.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

Players Welfare: Gateway United FC Lauds Ogun Govt.

By Web News 1065

The Acting General Manager, Gateway United Football Club, Mr Niyi Soleye has commended the Ogun State Government for the prompt payments of players’ salaries despite the harsh economy occasioned by coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Soleye stated this in Abeokuta while receiving the executive members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Ogun State chapter led by its Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde.

The Gateway United football club Acting General said the regular payment of the players’ salaries was an indication of a new era to the state owned football club.

Mr Soleye, who thanked the sports writers in the state for their support for team, said there was the need for the sustenance of the existing cordial relationship between the club and the professionals.

Earlier, SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde had urged the management of Gateway United to see the association as partner in progress.

Alhaji Akintunde also reaffirmed the commitment of the sports writers in the state to project the activities of the club.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

Covid-19 Palliative: SWAN Hails NFF’s Transparency

By Web News 843

The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr Honour Sirawoo has applauded the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on the transparent manner it disbursed the COVID-19 palliative package from FIFA, CAF and other sponsors.

Mr Sirawoo who expressed delight at the 11,580,000, eleven million, five hundred and eighty thousand Naira that was earmarked for SWAN said the NFF was meticulous in ensuring that all the stakeholders in Nigerian football were duly captured.

He further noted that the gesture will in no small way enhance the cordial working relationship between the NFF and other stakeholders especially SWAN, even as he urged all the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant.

“The leadership of the NFF has displayed a very high degree of transparency in the manner it handled the COVID-19 palliatives from its various sponsors by ensuring that all the stakeholders in the football development chain were captured.”

“We in SWAN are particularly happy because this recognition will go a long way in ameliorating the impact of the pandemic which has slowed down the economic activities of the country.”

“We thank the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick and members of his Board for this well-thought and timely gesture; our members have gone through various degrees of pains following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we say thank you NFF” he declared.” 

The SWAN President also assured that he will ensure that all the members of the association in its 37 state chapters were given their due from the amount.”

He also urged the NFF to continue to work assiduously in its quest to enhance the development of football in the country “because football has remained one factor that has over the years held Nigerians together”.

Olaolu Fawole

Sport

Ogun Sports Commissioner Hosts SWAN, Promises Open-Door Policy

By Web News 1345

Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde has solicited the support of stakeholders especially sports journalists in reviving the sector in the state.

Dr. Kehinde made the call while receiving the executives of Ogun State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Akeem Akintunde in Abeokuta.

Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde with members of Ogun SWAN during the visit

The Youth and Sports Commissioner who noted that the task of developing the sports sector required the contributions of individuals, groups and associations promised to run an open-door policy towards ensuring positive turnaround in the sector.

He commended the SWAN executives and members for discharging their duties professionally and promised work with them for the development of the sector.

Earlier, the SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Akeem Akintunde had stressed the need for the government to resuscitate grassroots sports especially by organising a mini-festival that would engage youths in sporting activities and assist the state to discover new talents.

Alhaji Akintunde who described sports as an important sector to reduce youth restiveness said there was the need for the state athletes to commence early preparations for the National Sports Festival to ensure that state return to its leading place in the sector. 

Olusegun Folarin

SWAN President, Honour Sirawo during a visit to the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare
Sport

SWAN Visits Minister, Promises Support

By Web News 1005

President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawo has paid a visit to the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare at his office, Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

Sirawoo who was among the first callers to Mr. Dare, a day, after he assumed duty as minister, immediately had a closed-door meeting with the veteran journalist. 

Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, President of SWAN, Honour Sirawo and members of the SWAN Council

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, Sirawoo stated that ways to develop sports took center stage at the meeting.

He added that SWAN would support the new minister to succeed and record laudable achievements. 

Chairman, SWAN, Oyo State, Olaolu Fawole and some members of the Full Council were part of the delegation that paid the Minister a visit. 

Olaolu Fawole

Economy Sport

Sports is A Major Tool for National Development – ABUAD VC

By Web News 857


Governments at all level have been encouraged to empower the youths through sports to enable them the play prominent role in national development.

The first Professor of sports in Africa and Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Ado-Ekiti, Michael Ajisafe, made the call in Ibadan while delivering the July edition of SWAN Seat, a personality lecture program organized by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Oyo state Chapter.

Professor Ajisafe explained that without youth empowerment, the government will not be powerful and effective, hence the need to invest in sports to capture the youths especially the street children for national development.

He argued that sports was a tool for national development as it had over the years created platforms for youth engagement, training and economic growth.

While noting that investment would expose the youths to sports as a game, academic discipline, professional career as well as business entity, enjoined the youths to venture into sports for self-reliance.

In a remark, SWAN Vice President, Southwest, Mr. Boye Ajayi who identified sports as the shortest way to fame, wealth and power urged the youths to develop interest in sports to register their names in the society’s hall of fame.

Similarly, NUJ Vice President, B Zone, Mr. Cosmas Oni, called on the government to upgrade all sporting facilities in the country to strengthen sports in Nigeria.

Earlier in an address of welcome, Oyo SWAN Chairman, Olaolu Fawole, said the program was propelled by the drive of his administration to promote sports development.

Fawole implored Governments and other stakeholders to concentrate on measures to harness talents and potentials through sports.

Adedayo Adelowo



Sport

Oyo SWAN to Host ABUAD, Unilorin VCs on “SWAN Seat”

By Web News 884

The first Professor of Sports in Africa, Professor Michael Ajisafe will on Thursday, 11th of July, be the guest on July 2019 edition of  Oyo SWAN SEAT.

Professor Ajisafe, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, will deliver a lecture entitled “Sports:Tools for Youth Empowerment towards National development”.

According to a statement by the Acting Secretary of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Oyo State Chapter, Olusegun Adesoji, the lecture will come up at Dapo Aderogba Hall of the NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan at 11 o clock in the morning.

The statement notes that Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Sulyman Abdulkareem is the Distinguished Guest of Honour, while Chairman, Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resorts, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, is the Chairman of the lecture while the host of the programme is the Oyo SWAN Chairman, Olaolu Fawole.

It also adds that stakeholders in the sports sector across Oyo State  are expected to grace the occasion, which is part of ways to improve sports administration, promotion and development.

Babatunde Tiamiyu