The Niger State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Saturday inaugurated new executives to pilot its affairs for the next three years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five executive members emerged unopposed for the various positions during an election in Minna.
Mr George Daniya of the Niger state-owned Newsline Newspapers emerged as the new Chairman, Mr Samson Ojogbane of African Independent Television (AIT), Vice Chairman, while Chinwendu Nnadozie, of Daily Independent Newspapers emerged the first female State Secretary of SWAN.
Other members of the new leadership included Malam Abdulrazak Oguntuwase of the state radio, Treasurer, Malam Alhassan Kutigi of the state television, Financial Secretary and Mr Rabiu Gimba of Prestige FM, Welfare Officer.
Inaugurating the executives, Malam Mohammed She, National Treasurer, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), urged them to bring back the glory of SWAN in the state by initiating sporting programmes that would develop the association and encourage new members to join.
Also, Mr Emmanuel Umar, the Commissioner for Sports, called for sustenance of working relationship between the state chapter of SWAN and the Ministry for the development of sports.
Umar, who was represented by Alhaji Sheshi Katcha, Director of Sports in the ministry, said that the ministry would welcome criticisms by SWAN as part of the driving force to facilitate sports development.
He advised that such reports must not be geared toward destroying the existing bond between the ministry and the association.
Malam Abdul Idris, the state Chairman, NUJ, tasked the executives to make SWAN the envy of other associations in the council.
Idris, who was represented by Mr Abu Nmodu, NUJ state secretary, described the new SWAN executives as composition of people with proven integrity.
“Leadership is about sacrifices. Leadership is about service to humanity, please don’t take it too high,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Abu Hassan, North-Central zonal Secretary of SWAN, commended the Chairman of the Interim Management Team, Mr Dan Amasingha, and his team for successfully conducting elections that produced the executives.
Hassan said that there was need for all sports stakeholders to work as a team in order to attain the desired goals. (NAN)
