Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District has donated a working tools to members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the state ahead of the 2024 National Sport Festival.

The donation, which took place on Friday at the SWAN Secretariat in Abeokuta included press bag, tag jacket, water bottle, power bank and a writing tools for the sport journalists.

Speaking after the donation, Senator Salisu said that his visit was not only to empower journalists but also to show support for the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun, whose administration he praised for its commitment to development.

He said, "I'm here to support the state government, I must come back once in a while to support the wonderful job that the Governor is doing."

 The Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity emphasised the importance of journalism to the state and its historic role in Nigeria’s media evolution.

“This is the home of sports legends, Falilat Ogunkoya, Segun Odegbami, and Muda Lawal, so when a program of this nature is hosted in our state capital, as a senator, the least I can do is to support journalism practice,” he said. 

He continued, “Journalism started in 1859 right here in Abeokuta, not just in Nigeria but in West Africa. As a worthy ambassador of that legacy, I will always support anything that promotes and enhances the profession.”

“And therefore as a worthy ambassador of that legacy , anything that has to do with the potential to enhance the practice of the profession or to support the practitioners, I’ll clearly support and that’s why I’m here to this this  for SWAN, no just SWAN Ogun State but SWAN as a whole so that those who are coming from other state when they’re going back they go back with a part of gateway state, that’s what we are known for.”

Responding, the Ogun State SWAN Chairman, Michael Ogunsiji, lauded Senator Salisu’s gesture, describing him as “a rare politician” who kept his promise  to support sports journalists during the festival.

“When I met him late last year, he assured me of his support. He didn’t wait for a formal invitation; he walked into our secretariat unannounced and fulfilled his promise. We are grateful,” Ogunsiji said.

He commended the ongoing support from the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration, noting that the SWAN Secretariat at the MKO Abiola Stadium is currently being upgraded by the state government. 

He therefore appealed to the senator for continued support in equipping the SWAN Secretariat to serve as a befitting workspace for members.

Ogunsiji also charged Ogun athletes to uphold the state’s sporting heritage and aim for a top-three finish at the festival.

His words "We have many things to do for our members in terms of a capacity development, we were also organising training for them.

“However, state government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun is already upgrading the Swan Secretariat at the Mohood Abiola Sport Arena and then when that secretariat is completed, we still need  some equipments to work with so I want to appeal to the distinguish Senator that he should please when we beckon on him to come to our support in any regard to actually give that newly remodeled Swan office a more befitting, work space for our members.

"For the Ogun states contingent, it is my hope and my charge to them to let them know that this is ogun state, this is Ogun standard, the Ogun state government has invested in their preparedness for this festival, nothing else we are expecting from the contingent than to win gold for us. 

"This time around we want to be among the top three, of the winners of the national sport festival.

"With the kind of support and moral booster the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration has given to these athlete, we want to assure you that they must do well and bring glory back to Ogun State . 

"We are number one in terms of sport, we have the legendary Segun Odegbami, we have falilat Ogunkoya the first female Olympia in the country is from Ogun state , we have the likes of Muda Lawal Legendary and Ogun state was once a boxing hub in the country, and this time around with the level of preparation, we have given training and exposure to these athletes and I assure you that they will do well and I’m also charging them as well to make the tax payer money that have been spent on them to be fruitful and to give us something to smile home with."

The National Sports festival will start on Sunday with athletes coming across the country.