The President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawoo has commended the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung for approving the Association as Associate Members of national Sports Federations.
Sirawoo, who stated this in Abuja, shortly after the minister gave the approval following recommendation from the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said the gesture will ensure a bigger platform for sports journalists to continue to play key role in sports development in Nigeria.
He lauded Dalung for his commitment to sports development and global best practice which have seen him act, less than three months after the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) secured Associate Membership of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) at the 2017 SportAccord Convention in Aarhus, Denmark.
“The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has graciously approved the presence of our members in the national sports Federation Boards, even though it is as Associate Members.
“What the Minister has done is to domesticate what is fast becoming the norm worldwide, meaning that, he is a respecter of rules and an implementer of international Conventions.
“We are key to sports development, because we hold the key to effective sports promotion, our role is very essential,’’ the SWAN President said.
Sirawoo stressed further that “it is an opportunity to further defend the values of sports, where we have the responsibility to ensure sanity by working against corrupt practices including doping, that have in so many ways threatened the world of sports.”
The nation’s number one sports Journalist assured that Sports Federations and the country will benefit maximally from the involvement of SWAN in view of the responsibilities vested on members by journalism as a profession and closeness to the grassroots.
He tasked those that would be nominated by the association to ensure absolute professionalism and discipline in their actions, with a view to justifying the confidence Nigerians now repose in “us following our sustained commitment to the administration’s mission of restoring the dignity of SWAN.â€
The SWAN president said the body’s National Secretariat would immediately commence the process of reaching out to the leadership of state chapters and other critical stakeholders for nomination of members, who will add great value to the growth of sports in the country.
