The Kaduna State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) says it will organise several sporting activities across the state in the New Year to deepen Gov. Nasir El-Rufai’s peace process.
This was disclosed by the state SWAN Chairman, Mr Isaiah Benjamin, while speaking at the 2016 Kaduna SWAN Award/Bus Appeal fund at the Kabir Gymnasium Hall, Kaduna on Sunday.
He explained that the leadership style of the governor was one that the association cannot help but support.
“The Kaduna State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is doing everything humanly and administratively possible to ensure that peace reign supreme in the state,
“and in contributing our quota to that effort and in recognition of the fact that sport is a tool that can further help to unify people regardless of tribe, religion, political party and ethnicity, we have resolved more than ever before to align ourselves with the efforts of His Excellency.
“In doing so, we have decided to in the coming year ahead to engage the state, organisations and individuals, particularly the youths, in series of sporting activities as part of efforts to ensure that PEACE takes the centre stage in the state,” he said.
He explained that SWAN was rewarding those who have contributed to sports development in the state in line with global best practices.
“We in the sporting arena have also identified the need to also do same, and it is in this light that we have so identified some few personalities and organisations among very many, to be honoured in this 2016 edition with many more to be so honoured in subsequent editions,” he said.
Benjamin commended the SWAN President, Mr Honour Sirawoo, for his innovations and commitment that have seen the association make huge progress within the short period of his tenure.
“Let me also say here that the present SWAN under the National leadership of Mr Honour Sirawoo has clearly and unequivocally defined his mission and vision on assumption of office to take SWAN to another level.
“We can attest that in just a matter of months in his coming to office, he achieved much and he is still not relenting in doing more.
“It is in the light of what the National SWAN President has done and he is still doing at the national level that we as a state chapter have decided to queue into that spirit to also take SWAN at the state level to another height. What we are doing today is just a tip of ice berg.’’
He said that the Awards/Appeal Fund was the climax of the week-long events of the 2016 edition of the state SWAN Week.
“The week has witnessed series of sporting activities and competitions among members of Kaduna State NUJ chapels.
“I must say that the activities have been most rewarding as it afforded members the opportunity to relax outside work pressures which is always very demanding with rare opportunity to rest and unwind.”
On the appeal fund, he said that it was decided in view of the association’s determination to take sports development through good coverage to every nook and cranny of the state and Nigeria.
Winners of the 2016 football competition, KSMC Chapel, as well as the runners-up, Correspondents Chapel, were presented with trophies at the occasion.
The Vice Chairman of Correspondents Chapel, Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe, told newsmen after receiving the trophy that they were happy finishing second and would go back, train harder and present a batter team in subsequent competitions.
High point of the event was the presentation of awards to the recipients; Abdulrazak Usman, Dr Ademola Are, Mr Musa Nimrod, Mrs Aishatu Sule, Chief Sunday Adeleye, Mr Sabo Babayaro and Sirawoo as well as Messrs Ogbonna Daniel and Gana Sawa. (NAN)