NAN MD tasks SWAN to use sports as tool for national unity

Buki Ponle, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, on Wednesday called for the use of sports to promote unity and socio-economic development of the country.

Ponle made the call in Abuja when the executive committee of a faction of the FCT chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit.

He specifically called on the association to use its strategic platform to continually promote sports as a tool for unity, oneness and development of the country.

He said: “It’s a common knowledge to everybody that sports holds a pride of place in Nigeria.

“We know what sports has done to our country in promoting unity and oneness of our nation.

“Let (SWAN) continue to explore ways we can use sports in all ramifications to promote oneness, to promote the goodness of the country and also to elevate the country to a viable level.”

He stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to take sports back to its enviable height in line with international best practices.

Ponle said NAN would continue to support SWAN to contribute its quota to the development of sports in the country.

He, however, stressed the need for the executive committee led by Ndubueze Chidoka to be magnanimous in victory and carry along all aggrieved members following the outcome of the elections.

“I want you to make sure members who are not satisfied with the outcome of the elections are brought back to the fold,” Ponle added.

Earlier, Chidoka had thanked the management of NAN for the warm reception and support for the association over the years.

He said the association deemed it imperative to visit NAN because of the Agency’s credibility in quality news dissemination across the country.

Chidoka said NAN was one organisation that SWAN could not do without because of its professional reportage, especially in the coverage of major sporting events across the globe.

“I have to say SWAN cannot do without organisations like NAN, because you have assisted in making our job easier with your quality reportage of sporting activities across the country,” he said.

Chidoka also used the occasion to seek the support of NAN in hosting the annual SWAN week and football competition.

He said the association would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to reposition sports, while noting that reconciliation process was already in place to make the association stronger.