Exercising For Fitness A Regular Event - SWAN

Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Benue State Chapter has marked her 2025 sports week in Makurdi the state capital with the walkout from the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Square.

The programme continued with other sporting exercise at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Benue State Council Secretariat. The theme: Walk Fit, Get Smart, climaxed with thanksgiving service at the Saint Theresa's Catholic Church, High Level, Makurdi.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Creativity, Dr. Philip Nongu who also is the Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club, participated and delivered goodwill message. Nongu expressed gratitude for being part of the activities to celebrate the event. He said, it was his first time to be part of an event organized by SWAN and gave speech. Dr. Nongu acknowledged the role sports writers play in the promotion of spots globally and thanked SWAN for the quality reportage of Governor Hyacinth Alia's programs for development of youth and sports in the state.

He commended Chairman of the chapter, Hembafoon Orsar to have mobilized members for intensive coverage of the Ogun 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta. He said "everybody in all the nook and crannies read, listened and watched the performance of Benue contingent at the event." 

The Lobi Stars Chairman remarked that the conduct of SWAN justified sponsorship of its members the government made to participate in the festival.

 Nongu assured the Alia administration's continued support for the association to meet set targets. He said "I want to assure you that Benue State Government through the Ministry of Youth Sports and Creativity will support SWAN in the best way" it can afford for success of the association.

Expressing further willingness to support SWAN the Lobi Stars Chairman said "will also ensure that the promise of office accommodation, sponsorship to national sports meets and sustainable partnership made to SWAN is fulfilled." The Chairman equally undertook to involve SWAN in activities of the club like being part of the team to travel out of the state to play matches for members to report better.

The Patron, Nigeria Federation of Coaches Association, Benue State Chapter who is also the Secretary, Nigeria Referees Association, Mr. Anthony Agada applauded the association for organizing the event. Agada, Deputy Director, Special Unit and Research in Government House sought inclusion of other sporting bodies like coaches and referees associations into future events of SWAN.

The State Chairman of SWAN, Hembafoon Orsar thanked the Alia administration for always giving support and assured of greater cooperation to enable government gets the desired sporting publicity.

She disclosed that the event would be organized more frequently for members to live healthier lives in line with the theme of the exercise "Walk Fit, Get Smart."