Lagos SWAN Inducts New Members

In line with the provision of relevant statutes of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), the executive of the Lagos chapter has inducted some new members into the fold of the association.

The induction ceremony, which held during the recently organised national symposium organized by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos chapter in collaboration with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Defence Headquarters, Nigeria Police, Lagos State Sports Commission and other relevant agencies in the country on the danger of using illicit and enhance drugs in sports.

The symposium was held at the Golfview Hotel & Conference Centre at GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

The newly inducted members comprise veterans in Nigerian journalism who are senior members and former executives of the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ) Lagos chapter, publishers, members of Fourth Estate Professionals (FFPS) who have carved their niche in different areas of news writing, most importantly sports and others.

Among the newly inducted members are Gbenga Fatile, chairman of the Fourth Estate Professionals, Wale Ogunniran, secretary of FFPS and publisher of Integrity Newspaper, Abiola Ismail, Ex-officio, FFPS, Otunba Wale Shobande, FFPS, Morounfolu Gbolahan, a former Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who is also a member of FFPS and a sports enthusiast, Abiola Peters, Director of News Bond FM, Ayodeji Akomolede, Joshua Uloko, publisher, the Pride newspaper and City Pride newspaper, Samson Oki, President of NAOSP, Jerry Apeleokhai, Afolabi Saheed Olawale of P.M. EXPRESS, Alabi Agboola (P.M. EXPRESS), Kehinde Towobola (Pathways TV), Tope Ogunduyile (Dux FM), Adeola Shobakin, Taiwo Popoola (Dux FM, Tari Aiyensihan, Musbaudeen Olatunde Olanrewaju, Adewunmi Adedeji, Oluwafemi Fabunmi, Bayo Olaku, Kemi Ojediran, Owolabi Abiola, Taiwo Oyekanmi and James Adoyi.

While inducting the new members, the Chairman of Lagos SWAN, Olatutu Oladunni enjoined them to always promote the integrity and professionalism that Lagos SWAN is known for in the family of sportswriters in Nigeria, adding that their induction was not a right but a privilege to serve humanity.

She said her administration since inception has been introducing new and enduring policies that will change the face and fortune of the association in the Centre of Excellence.

According to Oladunni, the first-ever female chairman in the history of SWAN in the southwest region of Nigeria, her vision is to see SWAN being held in high esteem like professional associations such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and others.

“That is the reason we put in place this induction ceremony, the first of its kind in the history of SWAN to send a message of a new dawn in Lagos SWAN. Our door is opened to journalists of like minds who believe in what we are doing, ready to respect the constituted authority and to put in their professional best to uplift the association to the next level.

“Every member who is inducted today passed through painstaking and rigorous screening before we give a nod to their membership and this is a tradition that we vow to sustain to sanitise the system,” Oladunni said.

All the newly inducted members were warmly welcome into Lagos SWAN by the important dignitaries who grace the symposium include the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, Dr. (Mrs) Yemisi Folasire, Head of Human Nutrition and Diabetic Public Health College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, senior officials of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Olanrewaju Adesokan of Surrycom Great Nigeria Limited, Sanni Oladunni, CEO of Mol Integrated Services Limited, Austine Oshioke, CEO, Desaju Homes and Security Limited.