NAN-S-20
Sports
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2016 (NAN) FCT Minister Muhammad Bello has pledged his administration’s continued support for sports in order to productively engage youths as well as engender national development.
Bello said this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the National Executive Officers of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) led by the President, Mr Honour Sirawoo.
He noted that FCT had for long been a sporting arena and requested SWAN’s assistance in identifying and developing areas of comparative advantage.
Bello said FCT and SWAN officials would strategise on how the territory could excel in national and international events.
On SWAN’s request for land to build its headquarters, the minister advised the association to apply and promised to offer the necessary assistance.
Earlier, the SWAN President told the minister that sports had not only been a unifying factor for Nigerians, but also a source of wealth creation for players, their families and countries.
According to him, Cristiano Rolando earns 56 million dollars weekly, being the world’s highest paid footballer while the highest paid Nigerian footballer, Kelechi Iheanacho, rakes in 85,000 dollars over the same period.
Sirawoo informed the minister that the association was currently operating from a temporary office at the National Stadium provided by the Minister of Sports in July.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SWAN Deputy President, Umar Said, Secretary-General Olawale Alabi, FCT chapter Chairman Kayode Adeniyi and Zonal Vice Presidents were part of the delegation. (NAN)
KM/DE/NKO
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(Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Nkechi Okoronkwo)