SWAN Tasks Minister To Reposition Sports

The Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi to bring his “journalistic perspective, insight and firmness” to salvage, redirect and reposition Nigerian sports.

The association made the call in Lagos in a message of congratulations to the minister who is also to oversee the National Sports Commission in addition to his Youths Development portfolio.

The statement signed by SWAN chairman Fred Edoreh described the appointment would bring “refreshing perspectives to the reformation and transformation of the sports sector”.

The association noted that much had happened through the years and had “led to the near collapse of virtually all sports institutions in the country’’.

The association called the attention of the minister to the poor performance of the athletes and the corresponding effect on corporate funding, sponsorship and investments in sports.

It urged the minister to bring energy, vision and commitment to transform the sports sector and rekindle the confidence of sportsmen, investors and the public.

“Given your background as an ace journalist with deep perception of developmental issues, we trust in your capacity to deliver and get our sports out of the woods.

“We are happy with your coming to sports but our joy and pride will grow even more as you hit the ground running to salvage our sports,’’ the association said.

In a related development, the association also congratulated Ben Alaiya, Editor-in-Chief, Sportsday newspaper, on his appointment as the new media officer of the Super Eagles.

“We believe it will usher in a new era of cordial relations and effective communication between the senior national team and the media, and by extension to Nigerian football fans and the general public,’’ the statement said.