The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung on Sunday congratulated Honour Sirawoo who recently emerged the National President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
A statement by Nneka Anibeze, the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, said in Lagos that Dalung described Sirawoo’s election as a testament of the overwhelming trust reposed in him by the members of the body.
It charged the new executive to continue from where the former council led by Saidu Abubakar stopped in their quest to move sports writers to the desired height in modern day journalism.
It said Dalung described members of SWAN as an “integral part of the sporting family’’ and promised to work with the new board in the interest of sports development in Nigeria.
“Any activity without media coverage is like a man winking in the dark.
“Sports writers in Nigeria over the years have demonstrated their unquantifiable relevance and support in the development of the sector.
“The ministry under my watch will continue to provide the needed assistance to SWAN as they are our partners in progress. My doors are always open,’’ the statement said.
It charged the new board to hit the ground running, tasking them to focus more on the improvement of members’ welfare, on-the-job training, investigative and community development journalism.
The statement said that since they were referred to as the fourth estate of the realm, sports writers should see themselves as bridge builders.
It added that there was the need to be constructive in their criticism in their quest to effect the desired change.
At the election held in Ilorin last week, Umar Saheed emerged Deputy President, while Olawale Alabi of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was elected the new Secretary-General.
Ado Salisu was elected as Vice-President (North-West), Edwin Bekom (South South), Adeboye Ajayi (South-West) and Cajetan Nkwopara (South-East), Mohammed DanMusa (North-Central) and Abubakar Sadiq (North-East).
Others are Wale Joseph (Deputy Secretary-General), Chigozie Chukwuleta (Financial Secretary) and Farouk Bello (Treasurer). (NAN)