Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has reinstated his commitment to partner with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to promote sporting activities in the state.
The Governor made the commitment while he received the Nasarawa State chapter of SWAN in the company of Isaiah Benjamin and Ikenna Okonkwo, National President and National Secretary of the association, on a courtesy visit in Lafia.
Gov. Sule explained that the state is doing well in many sectors, including sports, so partnering with SWAN would go a long way to promote the potential of the state to the outside world.
He said that the state had put measures on the ground to promote other sports in addition to football, and the association would be highly important in that respect.
“I am interested in supporting and promoting sports, especially tennis, for young people to whatever level to enable them to realize their potential.
“We have discovered a young tennis player who had made us proud in a tournament recently in Lagos State.
“Already two academies had indicated interest to promote the 12 years tennis player, Ismail Shaibu, who won a bronze medal at the Adewale Isa Junior Tennis Tournament in Lagos State,” the governor added.
He further said that the state government, in collaboration with the academy, would promote the young player to a lot of opportunities outside the country to help him achieve his dreams in tennis.
Sule also accepted his appointment as the Grand Patron of SWAN in the state and promised to support the association where necessary to create an enabling environment for them to practice with ease.
Earlier, National President of SWAN appreciated the governor for the audience and the good work he is doing doing especially toward sports development.
The SWAN president solicited the support of the governor to host the National Executive Council meeting of the association in the state.
On his part, Mr Smah George, Chairman of SWAN in the state, appreciated the governor for the audience, which is the first in the state since its creation.
Gorge explained that the association is in the business of promoting sports and would continue to support the government by giving publicity to all the sporting activities in the state.
“This visit, I believe, will strengthen the relationship that is already existing between us and ensure effective collaboration,” he added.
The SWAN chairman further congratulated the governor on the promotion of two clubs in the state to a higher league in the country.
“We congratulate you, sir, for the return of Nasararawa United Football Club to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the promotion of Basira Football Club to the Nigeria National League (NNL),” the SWAN Chairman added.
He, therefore, appointed the governor as the grand Patron of SWAN in the state. (NAN).