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Olatutu Oladunni-led Executive is Only Recognized Leadership In Lagos SWAN – National President Has Spoken

The National President of Sports Writers of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Isaiah Benjamin was in Lagos recently on a peace mission to discuss and to lay it bare to every genuine sports writer in the Centre of Excellence that his National Executive Committee (NEC) would only recognize the only elected chairman in Lagos State who is Ambassador Olatutu Oladunni and her executive.

The meeting, which was convened at the instance of the number one sports writer in Nigeria, and with the genuine spirit of finding a lasting solution to the ‘perceived crisis’ rocking the state chapter, President Benjamin literally begged that all warring factions should sheath their swords for peace to reign.

The meeting has in attendance notable members of the state chapter who included the chairman herself, Ambassador Oladunni, veteran sports editors – Mr. Kunle Salami, Mr. Victor Enyinnaya, Mr. Tony Ubani, Mr. Taiwo Adelu, Enitan Obadina, Mrs Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, Mrs Blessing Nwosu, Bello Omotunde, Mr. Kaseem Ajibola, Oni Afolabi, Patrick Ibeh and a host of others who reasoned along with the submission of the President and aligned with his path for peace.

“The executive of Olatutu Oladunni is what I inherited when assuming office and it has to be so until the tenure expires later this year. I will only implore anybody that has interest in this office to get prepared when there will be a vacancy at the end of her tenure.

“Lagos is very strategic to us at the national and we will not fold our arms to allow this crisis to linger on unnecessarily,” the President told his audience who included some members of NEC among whom were the Secretary-General Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, National Ex-Officio Mr. Abiodun Ogundipe, National Treasurer Mr. Femi Amusan, Vice President South-West zone Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin as well as the South-West zonal Secretary Mr. Charles Ogundiya.

The President assured that the National SWAN would oversee a credible election at the due time, even as he wanted all the elders at the meeting to ensure that the reason for him coming to Lagos was achieved in the ensuing peace that will reign in the chapter.

“It will be a seamless process,” the President assured.

The Lagos SWAN chairman, Ambassador Oladunni, who commended the visit of Mr President and his entourage, used the forum to share her enduring visions for Lagos chapter since she took the mantle of leadership through a credible election in October 2022 supervised by the former National Executive of SWAN.

According to Oladunni, who is also the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association of Protocol Practitioners In Nigeria (APPN), she loves to see a sports writers association in Lagos that would be at par with the likes of other noble associations such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and others.

“We should begin to prioritize the welfare of our members and a situation where young sports reporters are giving the opportunity to rise to the top in their sports journalism career,” she said.

There is no iota of doubt in the credibility of the leadership of Ambassador Olatutu Oladunni in Lagos State, as a competent court of jurisdiction, had in a judgement delivered through a suit filed by erstwhile chairman of the chapter, Mr Debo Oshundun, has ordered that he (Debo Oshundun) should refrain from parading himself as the chairman of Lagos SWAN.

Oshundun, whose tenure had elapsed since December 2020, insisted he would contest the election outcome, proceeded to the court suing
National SWAN, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), former president, Honour Sirawoo, Olatutu Oladunni, Aron Akerejola and others.

Oshundun’s lawyers among whom were Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) had filed an Originating Summon to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Court 2, Ikoyi, Lagos,

The case, which lasted for one and half years, was presided over by one of the most senior judges in Nigeria, Hon. Justice M. Esowe

The verdict was delivered on 23rd January 2023. A judgement read for over two hours with over 65 pages vindicated Olatutu Oladunni and her Executive and SWAN.

For the record, Justice Esowe insisted that Debo Oshundun should henceforth stop parading himself as Lagos SWAN chairman as the court discovered that he has no identity card of the association since 2018 till that time.

Related Topics:Lagos SWAN Olatutu Oladunni

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Africano FC, Brazil Appoints Rev. Ikpea As West African Representative

It was another added feather to the hat of Rev (Amb). Samuel Ikpea, in faraway Bahia, Brazil, when he was officially unveiled as the West African representative of Africano football club.

The ceremony which was held Monday, to present the jerseys and kits for launch of the club, was held in the presence of the club’s president Oba Adekunle Aderounmu, Acoracasy Goncalves Silva, Marcia Giavarotti, Thais Giavarotti, Serginho Wanderley Braz, the Executive Director and Barrister Efunronke Koku.

According to a statement from Africano FC, Ikpea’s appointment is a testament to his passion for football and his invaluable contributions to the cultural and socio-economic relationship between Brazil and Nigeria.

Responding to his appointment, an elated Rev. Ikpea, promised to contribute to the development and growth of Africano FC and help it achieve its set sporting objectives in Nigeria and West Africa.

Ikpea who doubles as the national chairman of Nigeria and Africa’s foremost football fans group, the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), disclosed that when he returns to Nigeria, he would put to actions, plans to launch and grow Africano FC in Nigeria.

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NFF breaks ground for construction of Players’ hostel and new training pitches

The Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led NFF administration will add another milestone on Tuesday when the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Players’ Hostel and a number of new training pitches holds in Abuja. The groundbreaking will be done by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas GCON.

Named the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel, the 68-room facility is located at the heart of Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, almost directly opposite the NFF Secretariat. It is a two-wing edifice, with A and B sections, and has a total of 62 single rooms, four suites and two executive suites.

Alongside the hostel is the construction of two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass), re-construction of the existing synthetic pitch, sitting terraces for spectators, two dressing rooms for players (each accommodating 27 players at a time) and two dressing rooms for officials. The spectators’ terraces will have 1,838 seats.

The construction, which is projected to last 24 months, is funded by world football-governing body, FIFA through its FIFA Forward 3.0 program.

The FIFA Forward is the largest and biggest sport development program in the world, and was created in 2016 when FIFA President Gianni Infantino was first elected to office. The core idea is three-fold: increase the investment into football worldwide; achieve more impact with specific and tailor-made projects and; make sure to have more oversight to ensure that the investment in football development is transparent, carefully-managed and effective.

NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said: “The NFF is excited about the Players’ Hostel and new training pitches. It is a transformational project around our national teams and we are grateful to FIFA for providing the funds for these amazing facilities.

“Right from the inception of the present NFF administration, we were very clear on what we wanted to do with our FIFA Forward 3.0 funds. Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management, it will substantially reduce expenditure in these areas and enable us to commit more funds to grassroots development programs.”

FIFA’s Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Regional Director (Africa), Gelson Fernandes, said: “The main objective of the Forward Programme is to ensure top-quality infrastructure that drives football development worldwide. The NFF’s transformation of its Technical Centre is a perfect example – upgrading training pitches, building modern accommodation and creating a true home for the national teams; this project is a brilliant one for Nigeria football.

“We’re proud to support and to work alongside the NFF, not only with funding but also by sharing expertise to make this project a reality. Nigeria lives and breathes football, and FIFA is committed to helping the game grow as much as we can.”

Among the special guests invited to Tuesday’s ceremony are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; the Ambassadors of the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco; former deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu; Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun; Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap and; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko.

Also invited are the Chairmen of sports committees in the Senate and House of Representatives; NOC President, Engineer Habu Gumel; former sports ministers Sunday Dare and John Enoh; Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade; former NFF President Sani Lulu Abdullahi; former NFF scribes Ambassador Fanny Amun and Barr. Musa Amadu and; 10 legends of Nigeria football, viz former senior team captains Olusegun Odegbami, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Nwankwo Kanu, Mutiu Adepoju, Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Ahmed Musa, Precious Dede and Stella Mbachu.

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Gumel Re-elected Unopposed as ANOCA Treasurer-General in Algiers

Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel has been re-elected unopposed as the Treasurer-General of the African Olympic body. at its General Assembly in Algiers.

The African Olympic body is known officially as the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

The announcement was made during a successful General Assembly held in Algiers, the Algerian capital, where Gumel was confirmed in his role without opposition.

This marks another term of four years for Engr. Gumel in his capacity as the Treasurer-General.

This is a demonstration of the trust and confidence placed in his leadership by the members of ANOCA drawn from mainly the presidents of the Olympic Movement in the continent.

Alongside Mr. Gumel, the Algerian president of ANOCA, Moustspha Berraf, was also re-elected unopposed, reflecting continued stability and unity within the organization.

Gumel is currently the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the country’s lone member to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Assembly was rounded up with a special Awards ceremonies with our own Rena Wakama, Nigeria’s D’Tigress Coach to the 2024 Paris Olympics being one the recipients.

She was adjudged the Best African Coach at the Olympics by ANOCA.

Her Trophy was received on her behalf by Gumel and was presented by the National Sports Commission (NSC) Chair, Mallam Shehu Dikko.