The Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, publishers of The Voice Newspaper, Makurdi (BPPC), will project the activities of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
The Acting General Manager of the Corporation, Mr. Akpera Nase, made the declaration when the leadership of SWAN paid a courtesy call on him to present a letter of congratulations from the National Secretariat of SWAN on his appointment as Acting General Manager of the BPPC on Wednesday in Makurdi. He said, “The BPPC, publishers of The Voice Newspaper, under my watch, will project the activities of SWAN in our own way and make them proud of one of their own who has been elevated.”
Mr. Nase stated that he lacked words to express his appreciation to the National Secretariat of SWAN, led by Comrade Isaiah Benjamin and his selfless and dependable team, for the honour done to him by recognising him and for the privilege of receiving a congratulatory letter from them. He noted that, “SWAN is the first group to pay a courtesy visit to me since I assumed office as Acting General Manager of this vibrant state medium that has produced great men who have served the state and federal governments at various times. They include the late Chief David Attah, who served as Chief Press Secretary to two Military Heads of State, General Sani Abacha and General Abdulsalami Abubakar respectively, Mr. Sebastine Agbinda, the late Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse, Mr. Wata Tachia, Prof. Bem Audu of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Mr. Hingah Biem and others too numerous to mention. This is an indication that you are standing by me.”
He called on SWAN to revive the SWAN Cup competition, which was last played in 2001 after The Voice Newspaper defeated Radio Benue 2-1 in the final and was abandoned, and to also organise an inter-security football competition, which is the responsibility of SWAN, as is done in other states of the federation.
Mr. Nase thanked His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, for his wisdom and foresight in appointing a God-fearing, bridge-builder, energetic, vibrant and core journalist who speaks fluent and standard English devoid of mother-tongue interference, Hon. Solomon Iorpev, as the Commissioner for Information and Orientation. He disclosed that, “I did not expect my appointment, but because of the diligence, uprightness, sincerity and fair play of Hon. Iorpev and the approval of the Governor, I was saddled with the responsibility of steering the ship of the Corporation.”
“I pray God to bless the Governor and give him the strength to continue with the good work he is doing by transforming the state into a better place where everyone will be set free from the shackles of underdevelopment.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Benue State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Hembadoon Orsar, said they were in the Acting General Manager’s office to deliver a letter of congratulations from the President of SWAN, Comrade Isaiah Benjamin, to him and also to congratulate him on behalf of the Benue State Chapter of SWAN on his well-deserved appointment.
She said, “I am here wearing the cap of the President of SWAN, Comrade Benjamin, who would have loved to be here in person but could not due to other engagements, to present his message to you and also, on behalf of the State Chapter of SWAN, congratulate you on your appointment.”
Orsar said as a seasoned administrator who started from scratch and rose through the ranks to occupy the highest position in the Corporation, SWAN was very optimistic that he would transform the organisation into the envy of all government media establishments in the state.
The Chairman of SWAN recalled her days as an undergraduate when she did her internship at The Voice Newspaper, where he trained her on how to write sports stories and took her to the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, to watch football matches. She further maintained that it was his encouragement that motivated her to return to the Corporation after graduation to take up an appointment as a casual staff before leaving for Leadership Newspaper. She recalled that, “You groomed me to the level where I have grown to become who I am in journalism practice and in SWAN today. You also supported me to become the first female SWAN Chairman in Benue State and North Central Nigeria.”
“I want to pledge SWAN’s unalloyed support to you to succeed in your dream of repositioning the Corporation. We are also happy to associate with you and are praying God to give you the wisdom and strength to succeed in your new assignment.”
