The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has urged the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to intensify efforts in fostering sports development in the country.
Olopade gave the charge on Tuesday in Abeokuta after a novelty match organised by SWAN for media professionals at the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Gateway Games.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highly entertaining game at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena pitched the Northern sports journalists against their Southern counterparts.
The well attended symbolic football game was put together to promote unity and celebrate the vital role of sports journalism in national development.
Olopade who played the first half for the Southern team, switched to play for the Northern team in the second half in a show of unity and camaraderie.
The northern team eventually edged the tight contest 1-0, sealing the win with a slick team goal after the break.
Olopade used the occasion to rally sports journalists’ on the need to keep the spotlight on tournaments like the NSF and drive the narrative around sports development in Nigeria.
”Sports is life. It should not be relegated to the back pages or the end of news bulletins.
”Sports journalism is a vital pillar for the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry, and we will continue to partner with SWAN to harness the power of sports for national unity and development,” he said.
