Nigeria: Katsina host’s north west zone sports writers
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN north west zone last Thursday hosted its zonal meeting at the conference hall at the Muhammad Dikko stadium in Katsina.
Our correspondent reports that the august gathering was summoned by the vice president, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN north west Lurwanu Idris Malikawa and was attended by serving and retired national officers of the association from across northern Nigeria.
In his welcome address, director of sports , Katisna state ministry of Sports and social development, Umar Aliyu Saulawa, , who declared the session opened , on behalf of the state government welcomed what he described as the crème de la crème of sports journalism to the north west city.
According to him sports journalists have the mandate to promote sports with the aim to help compliment sports development.
He said the Katsina state government has cautiously improved its spendings on sports with keen interest in the area of grassroot development, urging journalists to pay attention towards sports at the grassroot levels to help the growth of the sector.
Saulawa also charged sports journalists to use their various platforms to advocate for an increased spendings by governments in a pattern that will yield fruits at the grass root level, lamenting that the current methods of spending especially on professional football has failed to aid the course of sports development at the grass root level.
He appealed to SWAN to come forth to partner with the state government to work towards boosting sports activities in the state.
In his remarks, VP SWAN north west, Lurwanu Idris Malikawa said the meeting was summoned In the spirit of complying with the statues governing the association.
He further said the meeting is fashioned to deliberate on issues that will support the promotion and development of sports in the region.
He thanked Katsina government and people of Katsina for the supports and spirit of camaraderie that has been tirelessly extended to SWAN , pledging that the association will continue to partner with progressive state governments for the betterment of the sector at all levels.
Amongst dignitaries that attended the open sessions were the former national president of the association, Saidu Abubakar, serving national treasurer, Faruk Bello, VP SWAN north east, Jibo Zakari, former VP north west, Ado Salisu, serving and immediate past state chairmen of the association from the seven north west states amongst others.