The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has been decorated as Grand Patron of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Nasarawa State Chapter.
At a brief but special occasion held at the Government House, Lafia, the Governor thanked the leadership of the State’s SWAN for bestowing him with the honour and pledged his commitment to the Association and its members.
The governor said, “I want to thank you for the honour done to me today. When Eche Amos reached out to me that he wanted to bring you people to me, I did not know he was going to bring this large number of personalities, including the SWAN National President, and his Secretary General, the State’s Commissioners for Youth and Sports Development, and his counterpart from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, as well as the Permanent Secretaries of Youth and Sports Development and Government House Protocols.
“I thank you for the respect you have for Eche Amos. I have a lot of respect for hard work, competence and commitment, and suffice to say Eche Amos has all the three of them. In fact, he made this meeting possible!
“I love to see people working together for a common cause. We have great potentials in Nasarawa State in various endeavours, including in the Sports Sector.
“It’s my desire to promote sports and talents in the State, and our efforts are paying off because one of our young tennis athletes, Ismail Shuaibu, who came 3rd position at a Junior Tennis Championship held in Lagos State recently is being scouted by more than two foreign Organizations who intend to develop his potential to a higher level.
“We will continue to do more for sports and talent development in the State.
“Once again, I feel truly honoured to be appointed as Grand Patron of your Association. I accept the position and I am committed to supporting your activities where necessary.”
On the request put forward by the SWAN National President, Comrade Benjamin Isaiah, to host the SWAN National Executive Council Meeting, the Governor stated;
“I will be happy to host the SWAN NEC Meeting in Nasarawa State as it will help to expose the potentials we have in the State to the outside world, thereby promoting what we are doing here, at almost no cost,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of SWAN, Nasarawa State Chapter, Comrade Smah George, congratulated the Governor on the promotions of Nasarawa United FC and FC Basira to the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League Season and Nigeria National League Season, respectively, and the appointment of one of the Association’s Members, Eche Amos, into the Board of Nasarawa United FC.
“We appreciate Your Excellency for all the positive records you have been setting in the State and country at large.
“We want to express our gratitude to Your Excellency for appointing one of our very committed members, Eche Amos, into the Board of Nasarawa United FC.
“We are proud of him and his appointment is more than deserving as far as sports journalism and sports development are concerned in the State and beyond. His appointment is our appointment,” he said.
The State’s SWAN Chairman who assured the governor of the Association’s continuous support and promotions of his laudable achievements in the State, particularly in the Sports Sector, disclosed the rationale behind appointing him as Grand Patron.
He said, “We have been monitoring Your Excellency’s accomplishments in the sports sector, which are not only laudable, but mind-blowing, and have come to the conclusion that Your Excellency stand tallest amongst your equals, and therefore, we are proud to decorate you as our Grand Patron.
“Your Excellency’s leadership, vision and commitment to sports development in Nasarawa State and Nigeria make you an ideal figure to serve as our Grand Patron.
“Your endorsement will significantly enhance our efforts in achieving our set goals as sports journalists and further project the achievements of your administration in the sports industry.
“We look forward to Your Excellency’s guidance and support to the Association, attend our events as Your Excellency’s schedules permit.
“Congratulations!”
Lending his voice, National President of SWAN, Comrade Benjamin Isaiah, commended the governor for all his supports to SWAN, Nasarawa State, and other major breakthroughs in sports in the State.
“It’s a great pleasure to be in this meeting which the Nasarawa State Chapter of SWAN invited both me and the National Secretary-General, Comrade Ikenna Okonkwo, to be part of.
“Suffice to say SWAN Nasarawa State Chapter is the first in Nigeria to invite a sitting SWAN President to its activities. This is also my first ever meeting with a sitting Governor since I assumed office as President about a year ago.
“We all know how difficult it is to have an audience with a Governor because of the demanding nature of the office.
“Thank you for the marvellous support to the Nasarawa State SWAN, especially your recent appointment of one of us, Mr. Eche Amos, into the Board of Nasarawa United FC.
“He has been of immense value to the Association from the National to the State levels.
“May I also plead with Your Excellency on the two requests made by the State SWAN for a bus and a Secretariat be accorded Your Excellency’s attention as these will be of immense support to the Association and its members. The items being requested for will further boost their desire to propagate the State positively to the world.
“Furthermore, let me use this opportunity to equally appeal to Your Excellency to sponsor the next National Executive Council Meeting of SWAN in Nasarawa State. This comprises all the National Executives of the Association as well as representatives of the States’ Chapters.
“This will further open the vista for us to brainstorm on other areas of sports development in the State.
“I wish to encourage Your Excellency to continue with the good work you are doing in Nasarawa State and humanity in general.
“The good people of the State did not make any mistake in electing Your Excellency for a second term.
“May God continue to reward Your Excellency abundantly,” he said.
Also present at the event included Hon. Jafaru Ango(Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development), Hon. Ibrahim Uthman Angbolo(Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism), Barr. Isaac Danladi(Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development), Ismaila Mohammed(Permanent Secretary, Protocols, Government House), Comr. Ibrahim Addra(Chief Press Secretary to the Governor), Comrade Ikenna Okonkwo(National Secretary General, SWAN) and Comr. Danmusa Mohammed(former Vice President, North Central, SWAN).
Highlights of the visit were the presentation of a letter of appointment to the Governor as Grand Patron and his subsequent decoration performed by the State’s SWAN Chairman, Comrade Smah George together with President of the Association, Comrade Benjamin Isaiah.
