SWAN President, Ahmed Aigbona Hails Sports Minister Over Move To Immortalize Rashidi Yekini, Others

SWAN President, Ahmed Aigbona Hails Sports Minister Over Move To Immortalize Rashidi Yekini, Others

… Commends World Atheletics Governing Body For Floating $500M Appeal Trust Fund

By Our Reporter

The National Secretariat of Sports Writers' Association of Nigeria, SWAN, under the leadership of Comrade Ahmed Aigbona and Comrade Mike Oboh, has lauded the innitiave of the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare over his decision to immortalize late Rashidi Yekini.

The Association, in its statement, stated that the decision of the Minister to immortalize late football and athletes stars who had put the name of Nigeria in the World map is a welcome development.

SWAN also commended the Minister for placing the mother of Rashidi Yekini on a monthly stipend and for extending the same gesture to Samuel Okwaraji's family.

Aigbona also applauded the Minister for the payment of funds into the accounts of Nigerian athletes to provide some relief in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SWAN, an affiliate of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, also lauded the World Atheletics Governing Body for taken a cue from the Nigerian example by floating a $500M appeal trust fund to assist athletes in the wake of the suspension of major sporting events around the world.

According to SWAN President, " As Sports writers, we have no doubt in your capacity as the Sports Minister to steer the affairs of the Ministry accordingly.

" As we commended your giant strides in moving the Sports industry forward, the national Secretariat of SWAN is also appealing to you to ensuring that all problems associated with sporting activities and the industry at large are dealt with, for the good of the games".

Aigbona explained further that despite these commendable efforts, hence the need for the Minister to look into the plight of other ex- international who are currently in a pitiful condition.