L-R (Front row) : The NUJ State Secretary, Comrades Mike Abang; SAWN Secretary, Essien Ita; SWAN Chairman, Mike Akpang; State Chairman, NUJ, Archibong Bassey; SWAN Vice Chairman, Musa Kutama; the immediate past State Secretary of NUJ, Solomon Azu and others.
By Anietie Akpan
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Cross River State Chapter, has reaffirmed its return to active sports journalism and stakeholder engagement.
SWAN gave this assurance on Friday, January 9, following a courtesy visit by the newly inaugurated Executive Council (EXCO) led by its Chairman, Comrade Mike Akpang of Cannan FM on the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey.
Speaking during the visit, the Comrade Akpang, described the engagement as necessary and timely, noting that the NUJ remains the mother organisation and institutional foundation of the journalism profession.
The SWAN Chairman emphasized that the sports sector cannot be separated from the media, stressing that sports thrives largely on “media participation, coverage, and visibility”.
He explained that SWAN had been inactive in the state for over three years due to the absence of a constituted executive, a situation that had caused many stakeholders to question the association’s presence in Cross River.
He disclosed that the association has now resumed activities, sports coverage, and stakeholder’s engagements, including plans to visit key sports institutions, military and paramilitary agencies, and relevant sports departments.
He added that SWAN intends to initiate projects independently, institute an award system to honour individuals who have contributed significantly to sports development in the state, and actively participate in national programmes to ensure Cross River State regains lost opportunities and be a force to be reckoned with at the national level.
Meanwhile, Comrade Akpang informed the gathering that the National Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Comrade Bonny Nyong, recently inaugurated a six-man Executive Council to pilot the affairs of SWAN in the State.
Other officers elected into the EXCO include Comrade Chris Njoku of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as Vice Chairman; Comrade Esien Ita of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), Calabar, as Secretary-General; Comrade Musa Kutama of Triumph Newspaper as Financial Secretary; Comrade Tina Todo of The Guardian Newspaper as Treasurer; and Comrade James Ekpo Ofana of Cannan FM, Calabar, as Welfare Officer.
In her response, the Chairman of the NUJ, Cross River State Council, congratulated the newly inaugurated SWAN EXCO and welcomed the association back to active engagement in the state.
Comrade Bassey commended the leadership for restoring stability and unity within the association and reaffirmed the NUJ’s support for SWAN, stressing the need for sustained collaboration between both bodies to promote professionalism and sports development in Cross River State.
She urged the SWAN leadership to remain inclusive, proactive, and consistent in its activities to ensure lasting peace and progress within the association.
The visit ended on a note of goodwill, with both organisations expressing commitment to strengthening cooperation and advancing sports journalism in Cross River State.
