To foster greater collaboration with sports stakeholders, the Gombe State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) paid a courtesy visit to the Gombe State Football Association Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Sarma, on Tuesday.
This visit comes on the heels of the SWAN executives’ earlier meeting with the Commissioner of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development two weeks ago. The initiative highlights SWAN’s commitment to building bridges within the sports community and enhancing the visibility of various sporting activities across the state.
During the meeting, Mr. Sarma emphasized the indispensable role that the media plays in promoting and revitalizing sports in Gombe State. He called on SWAN to extend their coverage beyond football to ensure all sports receive equal attention and support.
“We know that football is the most popular sport at the moment, but that doesn’t undermine other sports. So in as much as you make an effort to report football, help us to report other sports so that we can revive them all together,” said Mr. Sarma. “Don’t underreport any sport for any reason. As SWAN, you are supposed to report anything sport as long as the person is doing what is worth reporting.”
He further encouraged SWAN to adhere to the ethics of journalism by avoiding biased reporting, which could detract from the overall development of sports in the state. Mr. Sarma reassured SWAN of the Football Association’s support, expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations.
“We will welcome you to affiliate with the FA, but I assure you whether you are affiliated or not, we will involve you in all our programs,” he added, signaling a strong partnership between the two associations.
Mr. Mark Nuhu Malele, Chairman of the Gombe State SWAN, outlined the purpose of their visit, expressing gratitude to the Football Association for its support during SWAN’s election and inauguration. He acknowledged the need for improved media coverage of football activities in Gombe State and appealed for a cooperative approach to enhance the state’s profile in sports.
“Our goal is to work hand-in-hand with the Football Association to ensure that Gombe State takes its rightful place in the national sports arena,” Mr. Malele stated. “We believe that through effective reporting and collaboration, we can achieve this vision.”
