By Peoples’ Guide Reporters
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State chapter, Comrade Samson Chinedu Nwafor, has emphasised the importance of hosting Sports Writers Week in the State and stressed on need for all journalists and sports stakeholders to effectively participate in activities for the SWAN Week.
He also urged members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to sustain the momentum in sports reportage, emphasizing its crucial role in promoting sports development in the state.
The NUJ Chairman gave the hint during a courtesy visit by the leadership of SWAN, led by its chairman, Comrade Ndubuisi Nwogha, alongside the 2025 SWAN Week Planning Committee.
Addressing the delegation, Comrade Nwafor commended SWAN for its renewed dedication to covering sports in Ebonyi, acknowledging that sports journalism in the state has significantly improved. He, however, challenged members to remain consistent in their efforts.
“I sincerely appreciate your visit. The day the new SWAN leadership came, I emphasized that SWAN is an integral part of NUJ. In a state like ours, where the governor has invested heavily in sports, our duty as a union is to support such initiatives by ensuring adequate media coverage of sporting events,” Nwafor stated.
He encouraged sports journalists to use their individual platforms to amplify sports activities, noting that increased visibility would not only benefit the government’s sports agenda but also attract more attention to local sporting talents.
“It is good that we now have a well-constituted SWAN leadership, unlike before. We must ensure continuous media presence in sports reporting so that the government and stakeholders appreciate our contributions. If we maintain this momentum, it will help build a stronger sports culture in Ebonyi,” he added.
Despite his commendation, the NUJ chairman acknowledged the challenge of sponsorship, stating that the absence of big clubs or industries in Ebonyi has made it difficult to attract corporate support for sporting events.
“If Ebonyi had a big club or industries, you would see people coming to partner with SWAN. But that shouldn’t discourage us. The work we do today will lay the foundation for future support,” he noted.
Earlier in his remarks, SWAN Chairman, Comrade Ndubuisi Nwogha, expressed appreciation for the NUJ chairman’s encouragement and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to aligning with the government’s “People’s Charter of Needs” by promoting sports development through journalism.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the 2025 SWAN Week Planning Committee, Israel Ekene Mbam, described the upcoming event as a major step in revitalizing sports journalism in the state.
“SWAN is about selfless service. For a long time, we haven’t had a SWAN Week in Ebonyi. But with the new leadership, we decided to revive it. The event, scheduled for Monday, March 31, to Sunday, April 6, 2025, will feature various activities, including cricket matches, a sports writing competition for schools, road walk, and more,” Mbam stated.