SWAN Chief Hails Festival Trophy Donors

Saidu Abubakar, President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has commended donors of trophies for the first three winners of the ongoing 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

Three trophies, named after retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the late Chief Jerry Enyeazu and the late boxer Nojeem Mayegun, were donated by the Plateau, Abia and Lagos state governments for the first, second and third place winners of the festival.

President Goodluck Jonathan had announced  at the opening ceremony of the Games on Sunday that the first position for the Gowon Cup would get N20 million, N15 million for Enyeazu Cup for the second placed state and N10 million for Mayegun Cup for the third position.

Abubakar said in Port Harcourt that the donation of the trophies was an innovation for sports development in the country.

“I think, I want to welcome the idea and commend the initiators of that.

“And I am happy it is happening in Rivers at the 17th edition of the festival and I believe it is a good start because even the president of the country was there and pledged cash reward that will go with the trophy.

“In his mind, he meant subsequent editions should be taken by other agencies and private individuals.

“It’s a very good innovation and it’s a good start and I believe that those trophies put at stake will go a long way to enhance the competition among athletes from various states in both the 17th edition of the festival and 18th edition and subsequent ones,” he said.

Abubakar urged journalists covering the Games to ensure fairness by getting balanced reports and projecting the ideals of the founding fathers of the competition.

He commended Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers for bringing innovation into the opening ceremony as it was watched live all over the world.

“During the opening ceremony, what impressed me more was that the coverage cut across Africa for the first time and I was highly impressed and I appreciate the efforts of the state government,” he said.