By Mukhtar Sagir Dambatta
Isaiah Benjamin, President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has called for sustainable sports structures to promote lasting excellence across all sporting disciplines.
Benjamin made the call in his 66th Independence Anniversary message, conveyed through SWAN Secretary General, Ikenna Okonkwo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and urged the Federal Government, state governments, sports federations, private sector and other stakeholders to reposition sports as a strategic tool for youth development.
“Sports should also be used for national unity, employment and economic growth,” he said.
The SWAN president said Nigeria’s pool of sporting talents must be supported with sustainable structures capable of outliving individual administrations and leadership tenures.
He stressed the need for broad-based engagement involving athletes, coaches, administrators, sports federations, government agencies, private sector, media, former athletes and other stakeholders.
“As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence, we must begin to think beyond individual administrations and personalities.
“We need to build good and sustainable structures that can outlive leadership and deliver durable excellence across all sports.
“Our sporting development must be institutionalised, not dependent on who occupies an office at a particular time,” Benjamin said.
He called for stronger grassroots sports development through schools and communities, with clear pathways for identifying, nurturing and transitioning young talents into elite and professional sports.
Benjamin also advocated improved sporting facilities, coaching development, athlete welfare, regular competitions and stronger technical structures across sports federations.
He said sports could provide young Nigerians with opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship and international exposure, while helping to engage youths productively.
The SWAN president further called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector in developing sports.
He reaffirmed SWAN’s commitment to professional and responsible sports journalism, saying sports writers were stakeholders in the development of Nigerian sports.
“As sports writers, we are not only reporters of events, we are stakeholders in the development of Nigerian sports.
“We will continue to use our platforms to promote accountability, celebrate achievement and encourage the conversations and reforms required to move our sports forward,” he said.
Benjamin urged stakeholders to develop a long-term sports development framework that would place athletes at the centre and ensure continuity from grassroots to elite level.
He wished Nigerians at home and abroad a peaceful 66th Independence Anniversary and urged citizens to support initiatives promoting unity, youth empowerment and national development through sports.(NAN)
Edited by Emmanuel Afonne
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