The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Alhassan Yahaya, the newly elected National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
In a communique signed by the Union’s Secretary General, Ikenna Okonkwo after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, SWAN called on the new NUJ leadership to strive for excellence and take the Union to greater heights.
Presided over by SWAN National President Isaiah Benjamin, the meeting brought together NEC members from across the country to deliberate on key issues affecting sports journalism and development.
The NEC commended Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, for hosting the meeting and applauded his administration’s commitment to sports development. During a facility tour of ongoing projects in the state, the SWAN leadership praised the governor’s people-focused policies and presented him with the first-ever Sports Icon Award in recognition of his dedication to sports growth.
The NEC urged state governments to prioritize sports development by constructing and maintaining sports facilities as a means of fostering human capital development. It also called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to intensify efforts toward ensuring Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
After deliberating on the Ebonyi State SWAN chapter election report submitted by National Vice President, South East, Mr. Ikem Asika, the NEC upheld the emergence of the new State Executive Committee. It also resolved to establish a fact-finding and reconciliation committee to address issues surrounding the election process and urged aggrieved members to collaborate with the new leadership for the progress of sports writing in the state.
Ahead of its Diamond Jubilee Anniversary in 2025, SWAN tasked state chapters to ramp up preparations for a successful celebration. NEC emphasized the importance of timely registration for members and announced an upward review of associate member registration fees to ₦25,000, targeting content creators, researchers, and online media professionals.
The NEC urged the Ogun State Government to intensify efforts in hosting the next National Sports Festival (NSF) and encouraged all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to prepare actively for the event.
