Sports journalism in Nigeria was not left out on Wednesday as the globe marked the World Press Freedom Day.
The umbrella body had its full council meeting slated for that day and Thursday at the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi where advancement of sports journalism and general sports development in Nigeria were the themes of action and pronouncements.
The national president of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawoo used the occasion to inaugurate a platform for to engage sports stakeholders to speak on burning national issues.
Ahead of the Thursday’s full council meeting, the AIPS Africa president, Mitchell Obi sent goodwill message, but reportedly could not attend as he had to travel to Seoul, South Korea for the world sports journalists’ 80th congress.
The SWAN Platform Committee is headed by Tunde Orebiyi. Those named as members are: Sina Abimbola, the vice chairman; Abdulrahman Ibn Mohammed, Jide Alabi, Toyin Ibitoye, Tony Ubani, Mike Mbonye, Nobert Okoli, while Malam Abdul Raheem Aodu will serve as secretary.
Inaugurating the SWAN Platform Committee, Honour Sirawoo tasked it to come up with issues and generate ideas that will deepen the relevance of the association in national sports development.
He also tasked the committee to use the Platform to work in synergy with sports administrators, promoters and operators in the discharge of the association’s responsibility as watchdog of the sports industry.
“The terms of reference of the SWAN National Platform include generating interview and news for our members, the platform should bring us closer to stakeholders at the grassroots level, and the SWAN Platform should create ways to generate revenues for the association.
“There should be a marketing committee in the platform to market the association, we want to use what we have to generate revenue for the association,” Honour Sirawoo added.
He also charged them to bring the association closer to stakeholders at the grassroots, urging them to use the Platform to further build on the achievements of SWAN.
In his message to the SWAN Full Council meeting, AIPS Africa president, Mitchell Obi remarked the as Africa’s largest assembly of sports journalists “I am delighted to identify with your unique gathering which importantly coincides with the celebration of the week of press freedom across the globe and fittingly comes one week before the start of the AIPS 80th congress in Seoul South Korea.
With the changing phase of the sports media it is hoped that deliberations and resolutions of your meeting will focus and find solutions to the varied challenges of the sports journalists today in his workplace and even at home as it concerns the welfare and professional upgrade necessary to remain relevant”
Continuing, Obi said: “I want to assure the entire family of SWAN of my willingness and readiness to continue the projection and promotion of our collective concerns and interests.
“Be assured always of my good thoughts of a progressive and united SWAN, one which will uphold the standards of excellence we strive to forge beyond our borders.”
