Radio Kwara Sports anchor, Ismail Ayodeji has been elected Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Kwara State Chapter on Monday.
Ayodeji defeated Olayinka Owolewa of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by 17 to 13 votes in a keenly contested election at the NUJ Conference hall in Ilorin.
Sobi FM’s Toyin Saheed was unopposed for the position of Vice Chairman, Dare Kuti of Aclsports emerged Secretary unopposed while Sodiq Adebara of FRCN emerged Assistant Secretary.
Other Executives of SWAN Kwara State includes; Nicholas Uwerunonye (Treasurer), Bamidele Obaseesin (Welfare), Nusirat Popoola (Financial Secretary), Abdul Momoh (Ex Officio) and Mustapha Abubakar (Ex Officio).
The newly elected Chairman of SWAN Kwara State Chapter, Ismail Ayodeji said his administration will focus on training and retraining of SWAN members.
Ayodeji said the new executives will strive hard to ensure the completion of the secretariat which has been on the front burner of the past administration.
He emphasised on the improvement of welfare of members and partnering relevant organisations.
He said, “As we receive the mantle of leadership today, we are hitting the ground running without further delay, our tenure will focus on training and retraining of members, completion of our secretariat, improve welfare of members and as well partnering relevant organisations to achieve the set objectives.
“We will work towards strengthening our membership and this will be achieved by reaching out to new media houses which spring up across the state. The association will open its official Facebook page, Twitter, IG and website to further project our image as well assisting in disseminating information on various sports developmental programmes in the state.”
“To achieve this, we are soliciting for your maximum cooperation and understanding as we begin the process of rejuvenating our great association”, he added.
He said, “I am also indebted to the General Manager of the Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Kwara, Alhaji Kayode Aremu and his Management team, Barrister AbdulKareem Alabi of the Saliu Mustapha foundation for their unalloyed support towards my emergency as the new Chairman of Kwara SWAN.
“I will like to thank the administration of our silent achiever and indefatigable Governor of Kwara state, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for changing the narrative in sports sector in Kwara state, his giant strides in the last three and half years are overwhelming, just as we appeal to him to oblige us to meet him”.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Mogaji pledged total support for the association.
Mogaji said, “SWAN is the association that can guide us, criticise and tell sports administrators what to do. I want to appeal to journalists to get their facts from both parties before reporting their stories in order to balance their reports.
“Without SWAN, sports cannot develop and I want to assure you of the commission’s support”.
In their various goodwill messages, the Chairman of Kwara State Television Commission, Mallam Hameed Adio (OLY); the Chairman Kwara State Football Association, Idris Abdullahi (Thuraya) and the administrator of Kwara Football Academy, Alhaji Ibrahim Bako promised to partner with the newly elected executive in moving the association forward.
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