Sports Minister Sunday Dare to Flag off Oyo SWAN Week
By Ogundele Olanrewaju
The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development is expected to declare open the 2021 edition of annual Week of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter in Ibadan.
The 2021 SWAN will hold between 13th and 19th of December 2021 and will feature various programmes including a lecture titled ‘Taking Nigeria Sports to the Next Level Through School Sports Reform’ to be delivered by the President, School Sports Federation Mrs Olabisi Joseph, as well as table tennis tournament, five -a- side football competition and a dinner/award nite.
A press statement, issued by Oyo SWAN Chairman, Niyi Alebiosu and the Association’s Secretary, Adewale Tijani, revealed that the 2021 Oyo SWAN Week would be declared open by Mr Sunday Dare on Monday, 13th of December at the NUJ Press Centre Iyaganku Ibadan.
The press release also hinted that the minister would be conferred with an award of honour at the event in appreciation of his valuable contributions to the development of Sports in Nigeria.
According to Mr Niyi Alebiosu, Mr Dare will be the first Sports Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to receive such honour from Oyo SWAN.
Aside the minister, other dignitaries lined up to be honoured for their support to the society and SWAN as a body are the former Chief Press Secretary to Late Governor Lam Adesina, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, the Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) Mogaji Akin Fagbemi, the General Manager Shooting Stars Sports Club, Alhaji Rasheed Balogun, the Chairman Nigeria Judo Federation Dr Musa Oshodi, the Chairman Ibadan Football Association Barrister Rotimi Alli as well as the Chairman Oyo State Table Tennis Association Mr Soji Tayo.
Others shortlisted for Oyo SWAN awards are the General Manager, Oyo State Sports Council Mr Gboyega Makinde, the Chairman Ogbomoso United FC Mr Akinwole Akinwale, the Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide Founder who is also the owner of Shafaudeen Patriots FC, Professor Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke J.P and the Chief Executive Officer of Absolute Success Travels Evangelist Ajibola Ogunkeyede.
Mr Alebiosu further disclosed that an Agropreneur Chief Gbenga Olatunbosun Eyiolawi of Titan Farms would be made the Patron of the Association of Sports Writers in the state at the grand finale of Oyo SWAN Week on the 19th of December 2021.