SWAN President Praises Oladunni -led Executive’s Initiatives As Lagos Chapter Holds 2024 SWAN Day Amid Pomp

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE

President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Isaiah Benjamin was in Lagos on Thursday, 21 November 2024 to grace the occasion of SWAN Day organised by the Lagos chapter of the association.

The 2024 SWAN Day celebration, put together by the Lagos chapter, was a contrast from what has been the order of things in the history of the association as Ambassador Olatutu Oladunni-led executives used the Day to gathered people of high caliber, not primarily from the sports sector, to a Dialogue on International Diplomacy and it’s Diversity on Foods, Drinks, Cultural Heritage, Fashion, Arts, Music, Dance Fiesta.

With arrays of partnerships and sponsorships such as Foreign Relations Team of Pan African American Chamber of Commerce (PAACCC), UNESCO, Gambian Embassy in Nigeria, SABRE, Nigeria Bottling Company, Carokings Media Ltd, SWAN Spring Water, MOL Tech Accessories and MOL Integrated Services Ltd, UAC Foods, Interguide Academy, Supreme Ice Cream, Golfview Hotels, Indomie, Indian Embassy, JESAJU Homes, Victoria Avemamo, National Council for Arts and Culture, FM Consultancy Services, Sodan Travels and KKF Foundation, the 2024 Lagos SWAN Day was an exciting moment of different activities that further show the power of sports in bridging relationships, friendships and networking in the society.

An elated President of SWAN, Mr Isaiah Benjamin was so happy to see a chapter of the association making a strong mark and giving SWAN a new identity that will further boost the image of the association which will bring unprecedented opportunities for members across the board.

“This is a good one. Once again, we have seen the capacity in the leadership of my able chairman, Olatutu Oladunni. She is the only recognized Chairman of our association in Lagos because from all records I met when I assumed office, there are no executives in Lagos outside her own. We at the national level will always take a cue from the initiative of what Lagos SWAN is doing

“Sports has been a unifying factor that brings people from diverse cultures together to put their diversity together to get results,” said the SWAN president while giving his special remarks towards the end of the ceremony held at the Golfview Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos.

“The honour extended to the National SWAN to be part of this noble event is a rare privilege. I want to assure that we will tap into the wealth of what you are doing here today.

“You have the support of the national leadership SWAN. What happened here today is worth emulating. I will advise all other state chapters to emulate what Lagos is doing,” he said.

Dignitaries at the occasion included the Gambian High Commissioner to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, His Excellency, Ambassador Mohamadou Musa Njie, who is also Special Guest of Honour; His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Chairman American Aviation Technology Company (SABRE) West /Central Africa, Dr Gabriel Olowo, late Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s first daughter, Yeni Kuti, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Adegoke Fayoade who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nwogu Martins, Provost of Nigerian Immigration Service, representative of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) presidential candidate, Alhaji Garba Mohammed dignitaries from the Indian Community in Lagos and a host of others.

The event, which was spiced with cultural display by the pupils of Interguide Academy, Ikeja, Lagos and Yoruba traditional ewi and dance drum all the way from Ile Ife in Osun State, also witnessed conferment of Global Diplomatic Cultural Awards on different categories of personalities.

Gambian High Commissioner to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, His Excellency, Ambassador Mohamadou Musa Njie being decorated with the Global Diplomatic Award