By Femi Atolagbe
|
The Hope Sports reporter, Femi Atolagbe has emerged Financial Secretary of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ondo State chapter.
Segun Giwa of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Joseph Adesuyan of African Independent Television (AIT) also emerged as the Chairman and Secretary of the association respectively.
The Congress was held at the SWAN Secretariat, Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, had the South West Vice President, Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin, supervising the process.
Femi Dairo, the caretaker chairman, in his opening address, gave all glory to God for the election after several postponements.
Ogunsakin, after dissolving the caretaker committee, urged members to ensure that peace continue to reign in the chapter, being his first official assignment.
The South-West Vice President appealled to all members to bury all hatchets and move ahead because Ondo State is a big chapter as far as SWAN is concerned.
He said : “See everyone as your member, see yourself as a servant, and put the interests of everyone at heart. In the process of election, we must have interests.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the Association in the state, Segun Giwa, thanked the national president, Isaiah Benjamin and members of the association for their support before and during the process.
Giwa, who asked for the support of all members, said the association is for all and members must rally around to ensure its success.
He appreciated the Commissioner for Sports, Mr Bamidele Ologunloluwa, for his support for the association and, like Oliver Twist,we will still ask for more.
“This is our association, and we must rally around to ensure we take our rightful place among the committee of chapters in the association.
“Ondo State has always been a trailblazer in all ramifications, and with the support of all and sundry, we shall take our rightful position.
“To this end, I urge all members to support this newly inaugurated executive of SWAN in the state for the set targets, aims, and objectives of the association to be achieved within the time frame of our constitution.
“Let me assure you all that my administration will promote peace through sports and sporting activities, especially at the grassroots level, and will partner with relevant stakeholders to achieve this aim; as they said, no one can do it alone,” he said.