The Nigerian Navy has pledged to collaborate with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for sports development in order to uplift the country’s teeming youths.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, made the pledge Monday, May 8 in Abuja while receiving a merit award conferred on the Nigerian Navy by SWAN.
The award was in recognition of the contributions of the Nigerian Navy to sports development in the country, both in the past and currently.
Represented by Commodore Suraj Mustapha Bello, Navy’s Director of Sports, at a short ceremony at the SWAN National Secretariat in Abuja, Ibas expressed regrets he could not make it to the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State where SWAN conferred awards on other well-deserving individuals and organisations due to his tight schedule.
While congratulating SWAN on a successful National Full Council Meeting at Yankari, he said sports writers have over the years remained the Navy’s very formidable ally when it comes to sports development in the country.
“Sports journalists are very critical members of the nation’s sporting family who must not be treated with levity,’’ he said.
Speaking further, the Chief of Naval Staff noted that sports have shifted from a mere instrument of recreation to a huge income-earner which has equally helped in national and international integration.
“The rate of crime will also reduce if we engage the youths in sporting activities,’’ he added.
SWAN President, Honour Sirawoo, said the Association decided to honour various individuals and organisations, especially the military and security outfits because of their contributions to the country’s sports development.
He assured that sports writers, as the society’s watchdog in sports, would continue to keep to their unique responsibility of holding governments at all levels accountable on behalf of the people.
He also advised that government and its agencies could add value to the sector’s development by investing energy and finances in areas where they have comparative advantage over others.
“For a very long time, Nigeria has concentrated on oil revenue forgetting that there are other gold mines like the sports sector which has the capacity to gainfully engage millions of youths if properly harnessed,’’ Sirawoo said.
SWAN gave awards to organisations such as The Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, the National Lottery Trust Fund, the League Management Company and Channels Television on Thursday, May 4 during its National Full Council Meeting.
The association also made Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State its National Patron while honouring the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, at the occasion in Yankari.
Meanwhile, in inaugurating its National Advisory Council, SWAN gave the body the mandate to advise and guide the leadership of the association at all times.
At the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State during the 53rd SWAN National Full Council Meeting, Sirawoo urged the members to continue to stand by the Association.
“As people who have contributed immensely to building SWAN, you should not allow the house to crumble.
“My administration will regularly interface with you for guidance, advice and support, and I urge you not to be tired of providing such advice as it will help further the cause of the Association,’’ he said.
The SWAN National Advisory Council has past Presidents of the Association as members with, with Barrister Steve Alabi as its Chairman and the members to choose their Secretary.
The formation of the Council was announced by Sirawoo at the inception of his administration in July 2016, alongside other committees.
“From records, there have been nine past SWAN Presidents. Regrettably, two are late. But we need to tap from your experience as our leaders, because we believe that you will not build a house and allow it fall.
“As you serve selflessly to nurture SWAN, we pray that God will grant you the grace to guide us right and correct us when we are doing something wrong,’’ Sirawoo said.
Speaking on behalf of the members, Alabi expressed appreciation for the honour done them, while pledging to be there for the Association. “I want to thank you for this honour done to us. President Honour Sirawoo, you and your NEC members are an embodiment of honour.
“I recall that in 2004, President Olu Amadasun called upon me to come to Umuahia where he gave me an award as the architect of modern SWAN.
“This is because, before I was installed as President, SWAN was then chaotic.
“And today SWAN is what it should be. What we have on ground is fantastic. What you are doing is great.
“Crisis is part of leadership because we are all democrats and democracy has in-built tension, but leadership must rise above the tension,’’ he said.
Alabi noted that the formation of the Council was a necessity and timely.
“This is a safety mechanism, so that when we have tension, elders can come up and intervene. We will be advising you. May your successors honour you better than you have honoured us.”
Members of the Council are all the past Presidents of the Association, namely James Adebayo, Lati Ogunmade, Steve Alabi, Fan Ndubuoke, Sani Zaria, Olu Amadasun and Saidu Abubakar.