The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Ebonyi State chapter has extolled the efforts of the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru in establishing the state-owned Abakaliki Football Club.
In a 10-point communique raised at the end of a general meeting of the Association held at the weekend in Abakaliki the state capital, SWAN noted with joy, that the newly created Abakaliki Football Club which is currently campaigning in the ongoing 2024/2025 Nigeria National League season coupled with other efforts of the State Government in the sports sector shows its commitment to revolutionise sporting activities in the state.
The Association thanked Ebonyi State Government for the provision of a peaceful environment that helped in the successful election of its new executive and lauded Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to reviving the state’s moribund sports sector.
According to the communique, “SWAN also wants to thank in a very special way the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Richard Idike, the Director General of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC, Comrade Tony Nwizi, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Samson Nwafor and other stakeholders in the state for their unflinching support to the Association.”
The communique further stated that SWAN in Ebonyi State is committed to giving the programs of the state government in the sports sector, the desired media attention and urged government at all levels to prioritise sports development in their 2025 development agenda.
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Sports Writers
Association of Nigeria, SWAN, also commended the National leadership of the Association, led by the National President, Isaiah Benjamin for its commitment to living up to its mandate of advancing the course of the Association and
expressed appreciation to the NEC for upholding the recently concluded elections in the state’s chapter of the Association.
“We thank the entire members of NEC for this singular act and also for standing on the path of truth, justice and fairness, members of the Association unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the National leadership of SWAN and assured of their loyalty, solidarity and support at all times,” the communique emphasised.
The Association also expressed appreciation to its National Secretary, Comrade Ikenna Okonkwo, the National Financial Secretary, Comrade Ijeoma Peter Nwante, the National Vice President, South East, Comrade Ikem Asika and the Chairman, Ebonyi SWANECO, Comrade Emeka Opara for their support to its activities in the state.
It congratulated the newly elected officials in Ebonyi State, led by Comrade Andy Ndubuisi Nwogha on their successful inauguration and charged them to take the Association in the state to a greater height.
SWAN in Ebonyi State encouraged the National leadership of the Association to set up a reconciliation committee that will address some issues arising in the aftermath of the recent elections in the state and called on aggrieved members to bury their differences in the interest of the Association.
Meanwhile, the new leadership of SWAN in Ebonyi State has set up a committee to interface with members who were aggrieved in one way or the other in the process of the just conducted elections and bring them back to the fold, while promising to start the 2025 membership registration of the Association early enough.
Summitnews reports that the meeting which took place at the SWAN secretariat, Abakaliki township Stadium, was presided over by the newly elected chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter, Comrade Andy Ndubuisi Nwogha.
