The Kwara Chapter, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) today, Monday January 23, 2023 elected new executives to pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.
Ayodeji Ismail of the Kwara Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Kwara) emerged as the new Chairman in a keenly contested election after polling 17 votes to defeat Olayinka Owolewa of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who polled 13 votes.
Toyin Saheed of Sobi FM emerged as the Vice Chairman, while Dare Kuti of ACL Sports emerged as the Secretary, both unopposed.
Sodiq Adebara of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), ldofian emerged as the Assistant Secretary while Nicholas Uwerunonye of Daily Independent becomes the new Treasurer also unopposed.
The Financial Secretary, Nusirat Popoola and the Welfare Officer, Bamidele Obaseesin also emerged unopposed.
The SWAN National Vice President, South West, Seun Ajayi-Obe who monitored the election adjudged it as free, fair and devoid of rancours.
He commended members of the association for their matured display of sportsmanship.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman, Ismail said he will justify the confidence repose in him by working towards revamping the association, consolidating on the gains of predecessors and improving on their weakness.
”As we receive the mantle of leadership today, we are hitting the ground running without further delay.
”Our tenure will focus on training and retraining of members, completion of our secretariat, improve welfare of members and as well partnering relevant organisations to achieve the set objectives.
”We will work towards strengthening our membership and this will be achieved by reaching out to new media houses which are springing up across the state.
”The association will open it’s official Facebook page, Twitter, IG and website to further project our image as well assisting in disseminating information on various sports developmental programmes in the state,” he said.
The Chairman solicited the maximum cooperation and understanding of members as they begin the process of rejuvenating the association.
Earlier in his speech, the outgone Chairman, Jimoh Bashir said there was the need to re-examine the level of relationship journalists hold with stakeholders.
”We should bear in mind that as journalists, we are the watch-dogs of the society. Our activities, utterances and sentimental dispositions shoud take cognissance of these provisions.
”We have also introduced some individuals into our activities beyond the level of welcome.
”And some of these practices have continued to threaten our unity, and as we know, without unity, we can never achieve anything positive.
”We must all bear it in mind that selling ourselves cheaply means devaluing our association which is giving us relevence,” Bashir said.
