The Senator representing Ogun central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu has presented media tools to Sportswriters Association of Nigeria, SWAN Ogun state chapter to aid in the discharge of their duties during the National sport games.
Speaking at the brief presentation held on Friday at the Mko Abiola Sports Arena, kuto, Abeokuta ,Sen. Salisu said he is doing the presentation in fulfilment of his promise to provide ease of filing stories for members of the association.
The working tools which included a backpack,power bank, jotter,press vest, flash drive,pen,water bottle were received with enthusiasm by members of the association as they expressed gratitude to the senator for the timely gesture.
Senator Salisu while speaking with newsmen emphasized the significance of journalism to the state and its historic role in Nigeria’s media evolution.
“This is the home of sports legends, Falilat Ogunkoya, Segun Odegbami, and Muda Lawal, so when a program of this nature is hosted in our state capital, as a senator, the least I can do is to support journalism practice,” he said.
“Journalism started in 1859 right here in Abeokuta, not just in Nigeria but in West Africa. As a worthy ambassador of that legacy, I will always support anything that promotes and enhances the profession.”
He added that his visit was not only to empower journalists but also to show support for the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun, whose administration he praised for its commitment to development.
His words "I'm here to support the state government, I must come back once in a while to support the wonderful job that the governor is doing.
“The practice of journalism started not just in Nigeria but in West Africa in 1859, and it’s started in Abeokuta .
“And therefore as a worthy ambassador of that legacy , anything that has to do with the potential to enhance the practice of the profession or to support the practitioners, I’ll clearly support and that’s why I’m here to this this for SWAN, no just SWAN Ogun State but SWAN as a whole so that those who are coming from other state when they’re going back they go back with a part of gateway state , that’s what we are known for.”
Salisu,who is the Chairman, Committee on Information,Communication and Technology and Cyber security was accompanied to the ceremony by veteran sports writer, Dr. Mumuni Alao.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State SWAN Chairman, Michael Ogunsiji, lauded Senator Salisu’s gesture, describing him as “a rare politician” who kept his promise to support sports journalists during the festival.
“When I met him late last year, he assured me of his support. He didn’t wait for a formal invitation; he walked into our secretariat unannounced and fulfilled his promise. We are grateful,” Ogunsiji said.
Expressing gratitude to the donor of behalf of the members, State Chairman of SWAN Comrade Michael Azeez said the media kit presented by the senator would aid the efficiency of the job. He described the gesture as a rare privilege for the association .
Ogunsiji added that SAS extended the gesture not only to the Ogun state swan members but to other state members who will be coming to cover the sport festival.
Delving on what other areas the association would be needing support for, he stated that Ogun SWAN still have many things to do for the members in terms of human capacity development and training.
His words " we have many things to do to for our members in terms of a capacity development, we were also organizing training for them.
' However, state government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun is already upgrading the Swan Secretariat at the Mohood Abiola Sport Arena and then when that secretariat is completed, we still need some equipments to work with so I want to appeal to the distinguish Senator that he should please when we beckon on him to come to our support in any regard to actually give that newly remodeled Swan office a more befitting, work space for our members.
"And in view of this am appealing to our distinguished Senator to please hearken to our call whenever we call on him, come to our support so as to give the newly remodelled secretariat a conducive working space for our members".
On the Ogun State contingent, the state SWAN chairman said "It is my hope and charge to them to let them know that this is Ogun State, this is Ogun standard . The ogun state government has invested heavily on them for this festival and there is nothing we are expecting from the contingent but to give us haul of gold medals.
" we don't want to retain that traditional sixth or eight position . This time around, we want to be among top three on the medals table and with the level of support and morale booster that the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration has provided for the contingent,I want to assure that they must do well and charge them as well to put smiles on the faces of the people via their performances.
" We are number one in terms of sport , we have the legendary Segun Odegbami, we have falilat Ogunkoya the first female Olympia in the country is from Ogun state , we have the likes of Muda Lawal Legendary and , Ogun state was once a boxing hub in the country, and this time around with the level of preparation, we have given training and exposure to these athletes and I assure you that they will do well and I’m also charging them as well to make the tax payer money that have been spent on them to be fruitful,do well and to bring back glory back to Ogun State".
0 Comments