The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) and other stakeholders to extend overdue recognition, support, and rewards to Nigerian sports journalists, who for decades have played a pivotal role in the growth and development of sports in the country, often at great personal cost.

 

In a statement issued on Tuesday by SWAN Secretary-General Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo on behalf of President Isaiah Benjamin, the association decried the “persistent neglect” of sports journalists by key figures in the Nigerian sports industry, despite their indispensable contributions.

 

President Benjamin lamented that, unlike other parts of the world where the media is supported, Nigerian sports journalists are “left to their fate,” a situation he described as “appalling and unacceptable.”

 

Highlighting the sacrifices of sports journalists who cover events at their own expense, Benjamin said, “Journalists pay their way through to attend and cover competitions both locally and internationally. They endure harsh weather, expensive travel and accommodation costs, and other risks, yet administrators see and treat them with disdain.”

 

SWAN cited the recent 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where over 25 Nigerian journalists attended without institutional or governmental sponsorship, funding their trips personally while also serving as passionate supporters of the Super Falcons in the stands.

 

Benjamin further criticized the trend of sidelining sports journalists in major planning and execution of sporting programs, questioning why administrators seek media support during personal crises but “shun them in institutional engagements.”

 

“Why does the claim of ‘no funds’ always come up when the media is to be included in crucial events, yet administrators find ways to sustain their own comfort zones?” he asked.

 

The SWAN President acknowledged efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, and past Nigerian leaders in rewarding athletes and technical officials with cash, houses, and honors but insisted that journalists—who amplify these achievements—must also be recognized.

 

“Athletes and technical officials deserve to be rewarded, but journalists who have shown greater dedication in championing Nigeria’s sporting growth also deserve acknowledgment,” Benjamin said.

 

He urged the NSC, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and other sports federations to adopt inclusive policies that integrate the welfare of sports journalists as a core element in Nigeria’s sporting development, stressing that without the media, many achievements in Nigerian sports would remain invisible.