Swan Commends Donation Of Trophies For Festival Winners

Mr Saidu Abubakar,president of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has commended donors of trophies for the first three winners of the national sports festival.

Three trophies,Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd),Chief Jerry Enyeazu and Nojeem Mayegun were donated by the Plateau,Abia and Lagos state governments respectively, for the winners of the festival.

President Goodluck Jonathan had announced  at the opening ceremony of the games that the first position for the Gowon cup would win N20m,while Enyeazu and Mayegun trophies would attract N15m and N10m respectively.

Abubakar said  in Port Harcourt yesterday  that the donation of the trophies was a good 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 in the 17th edition of the festival and I believe it is a good start because even the president of the country was there and made some pledge of what goes 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 games.

He commended Gov. Amaechi of Rivers for giving the opening ceremony of the games a new innovation and taste 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.