Shafaudeen Patriots FC Owner hails Oyo SWAN
………bags SWAN Awards
By Ogundele Olanrewaju
Barely two weeks after successfully holding its annual Week for the outgone year 2021, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State Chapter has received a pat on the back.
The accolades were given to the umbrella body of sports journalists in Oyo State on Wednesday by a renowned cleric and scholar, who is also the owner of Shafaudeen Patriots football club, Professor Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke J.P while receiving a meritorious award from Oyo SWAN at the Wakajaye headquarters of his organisation, Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide.
The founder and the Spiritual Leader of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide was honoured with a Grassroot Sports Promoter Award in recognition of his immense contributions to development of Sports at the grassroots.
Speaking after receiving the award, the visibly elated cleric eulogized Niyi Alebiosu led Oyo SWAN for recognising his contributions to sports development in the state.
He said the award would spur him to do more in promoting sports.
“I’m promoting sports to fulfill my desire to make life better for our youths. I see sports as a way of engaging our youths positively. I believe that if sports is given all seriousness it deserves, many of our youths roaming the streets and engaging in violence and other vices will be gainfully empowered. Thus, I am promoting sports to improve youths welfare. I see it as parts of my humanitarian services. I never knew a professional body like SWAN is watching me, and will reward me. I’m very happy at this honour and it will encourage me to do more”, Professor Olagoke said.
The retired lecturer of Engineering at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, who showered encomiums on Oyo SWAN, tasked the Association to continue to set agenda for government and sports administrators on how best to discover and nurture talented youths in the country.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Oyo Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr Niyi Alebiosu urged Nigerian youths to see sports as a veritable means of making wealth and names for themselves and their families.
“Sports is no longer a play thing, it is now a big deal that can give us fame and wealth. Athletes like Aruna Quadri and Enoch Adegoke are doing Oyo State and Nigeria proud. They are also making money and name for themselves. These are the people our youths should see as their role models”, Alebiosu stated.
The award presentation ceremony also featured the commissioning of a brand new table tennis set recently procured by Professor Olagoke for youths in the area to polish their skills in ping pong game.
The new table tennis kits were commissioned by Mr Alebiosu in the presence of the cleric’s mentees, guests and members of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide.
