The Benue State Commissioner of Youth, Sports and Creativity, Hon Nick Eworo, has stated that the Ministry will collaborate with the Benue State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), in order to take sports to an enviable height in the state.
Hon Eworo made the statement when the leadership of the SWAN in the state, paid a courtesy visit to him on Tuesday, in Makurdi. He said, “we are trying to rejuvenate, reorganize, rearrange and bring back sporting activities in the state, therefore, let us do whatever we can by contributing towards ensuring that sports regain its lost glory. I will require you to please collaborate with us”.
The former member of the Benue State House of Assembly who stressed the importance of SWAN and the role it was playing in projecting and promoting sports development and which is why they needed to partner the association for optimal productivity, emphasized that, “we should be partners and in reality, there is no way sports can succeed without SWAN. That is the plain truth and like in every other sphere of life, if you are not projected then you have done nothing. SWAN is the bedrock for sports to succeed and it plays a vital role in contributing to sports development”.
He recalled in his youthful days when the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi was a beehive of sporting activities thereby, causing a drastic reduction in crime because the youths had a place where they went and dispensed their energies. Hon Eworo explained that, “we need to bring back sports because it is highly important and this will be achieved when the Ministry of Youth, Sports and creativity and the Sports Writers collaborate”. He further stressed that, “we need to be close to each other, work together and try to see how we can scale-up sporting activities in Benue State”.
Hon Eworo who commended members of the Benue State Chapter of the SWAN for considering a woman worthy of the Chairmanship position, also assured that all the issues that were presented by SWAN would be looked into and pointed out that the “hosting of the Full Council Meeting was one of the very important issues put into consideration and which will be presented to the Governor, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Alia, to see how he can help us out for it to happen”.
The Commissioner thanked the EXCO members for the visit and urged them to always inform the ministry of their activities in time so that they would also prepare adequately. He said, “I want to thank all of you for the visit. Let us collaborate and project this administration”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Benue State Chapter of SWAN, Hembadoon Orsar commended the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia for appointing Hon Nick Eworo, a seasoned administrator as the Commissioner of Youth, Sports and Creativity, stressing that the association was confident that his leadership, would further advance sports development and youth empowerment in the state. She said, “as sports writers, we will remain committed to working very closely with you and the Ministry to project sporting activities, celebrate our athletes and promote the achievements of the Benue State Government, in sports”.
Orsar who appealed to the Ministry to involve SWAN, in all its activities to strengthen collaboration and enhance sports reportage, said, “we are also seeking the ministry’s support for the annual SWAN Week celebration, the hosting of the SWAN Full Council Meeting, facilitate its participation in national sports meets”. “We are looking forward to the day, when you shall lead SWAN executives to the governor, when we shall present our request and explore further opportunities for collaboration”.
She assured that SWAN would continue to support the government by projecting sporting activities and promoting the growth of sports in Benue State
