NAN-S-17
SWAN
Calabar, Feb.1, 2017 (NAN) Albert Andinam, Cross River Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and state secretary of the chapter, Dianabasi Effiong, have called on individuals, corporate organisations and relevant stakeholders in Nigeria gave renewed interest in sports development.
They made the call in Calabar in a joint statement they signed on Wednesday in Calabar to mark the 53rd anniversary of the association.
The two officials also called on government at state and local government levels to take sports seriously to generate employment and curb youth restiveness.
They said that sports remained veritable tool in promoting healthy living standards, image branding, public relations and reputation management for those who value them.
“Sports is a unifying factor, a money-spinning venture and a tool for tourism and infrastructural development. We can deliberately plan towards these by developing sports,’’ they said.
The chapter appealed to the Cross River Government to be more proactive in sports development and make concise efforts to harness talents using its Comprehensive Sports Development Policy to achieve the aim.
“By so doing, it will be better to groom them onshore than acquiring them offshore (poaching). The state can also effectively harness its potential toward sports development.
The association also called for the restoration of the National Sports Commission, adding that the commission had been the brain behind sports development excellence at the national level.
Andinam and Effiong stressed the need to create an enduring platform for the growth and development of sports in Nigeria.
They, however, lauded the national leadership of SWAN, led by Honour Sirawoo, adding that SWAN remained ‘’stronger, responsive and securing the trust and confidence of critical stakeholders.’’
According to them, the current leadership of SWAN has constructively promoted sports development, regulated as well as coordinated the activities of members.
The association also expressed the hope that Nigeria would continue to do well in sports at the local, states, national and global levels.
They also pledged members’ desire and determination to support sports development in line with SWAN’s aims and objectives, the National Sports Policy and global best practices.
A member of African Sports Journalists Union (ASJU and International Sports Press Association (AIPS), SWAN, was inaugurated on Feb. 1, 1964 and affiliated to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in 1985.
It has the mandate to coordinate the activities of the Nigerian media in the promotion of sports and enhance their socio-cultural values. (NAN)
GNO/DOE/DUA
Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Dada Ahmed