The Executive Chairman, Imo Sports Commission, Prince Eleazar Onyewuchi Ogbonna has described members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN, as critical stakeholders to grassroots sports development and talent hunt.
Sir Ogbonna made this assertion on Friday in his country home when members of SWAN, Imo state chapter paid him a courtesy visit.
Explaining his administration’s master plan for sports revival and grassroots development in the state, the Sports Commission Chairman noted that SWAN members has a key role to play in actualizing the master plan which according to him is intended to not just keep the youths of the state effectively and gainfully busy but also to improve the state internally generated revenue.
He maintained that Globally, the success of sports development in every society can hardly be achieved without a rubost collaboration with the sports journalists who are saddled with the responsibility of decimating the activities of the Commission.
“My administration will work with members of SWAN closely to ensure that the era of sitting and waiting for what the government brings has gone, that we have moved to the era of starting something the little way we can before asking the government for little assistant”,
“As a publisher of “Sports Ambassador and Ambassador Newspaper”, I truly understand the vital role sports journalists play in shaping the face and success of sports development”,
“Haven played the game especially in Europe and made very important contacts, it is my desire to use those contacts as the Commission Chairman to attract my partners and key sports development partners to partner with the Commission to ensure that we not only develope our facilities and our athletes but also give an avenue to to become very successful in their chosen sports of interest”,
“The Commission will soon come up with a calendar of all the activities lined up to ensure that our athletes and teaming youths are hunted for greener pastures and our grassroots sports reactivated in all the conners of our LGA’s, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and our Tertiary Institutions both public and private”,
“We have concluded plans for the scouted talents who will soon be travelling to Europe for professional football trials and we are doing same for all sports in the state not just football alone”,
“After my appointment, I took time to tour Europe for contacts that have shown great deal of interest to our Commission to help us achieve our set goals and since my return, I have not relented as I have ensured that fund for Heartland FC’s registration into the 2022/23 NNL was made available while some repair work on some facilities and repainting of the Dan Anyiam Stadium has since commenced”,
“I have a plan to meet with all the sports associations in the state with the view of finding out their challenges and ways we can better their lot and make them more viable”, he explained.
Responding, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN, Imo chapter chairman, Rtn Everest Ezihe commended the Sports Commission Boss for his relentless and dedication towards rebranding sports in the state.
He promised that SWAN will partner with him on his programmes towards achieving great success in the development sports in Imo state
The chairman Lauded his selfless and spirited effort and the use of his personal fund to execute some of the projects he has already started, urging him not to ignore SWAN in the scheme of his programmes.
/Samson
