Sports

Bunmi Haruna calls for SWAN inclusion on NSC board

Published

4 years ago

July 9, 2021

….As sports thumbs return of Sports Commission, sports University

Bunmi Haruna, chairman of Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, has called for the inclusion of the body on the National Sports Commission (NSC) board.

Also, critical sports stakeholders expressed their supports for the establishment of Federal Sports University of Nigeria and the return of National Sports Commission (NSC)

The newly elected chairman stated this in his presentation at the Senate Committee on Sports public hearing on the bill seeking to establish the National Sports Commission and the Federal Sports University, Nkalagu Ebonyi state

“Those who should have a say in sports should be part of the National Sports Commission, NSC. Hence, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) should be included in the board,” Haruna said.

“The importance of the NSC is such that we cannot resort to not include the body that acts as a bridge between the sportsmen, administrators, the people and invariably the private sector in it. Sports is business and SWAN is the vehicle on which it is sold, so neglecting SWAN in the composition of the NSC is omitting an important part of the commission.

He also believes it is of great importance to smoothen the relationship between the director general of the commission and minister of Sports to foster better working atmosphere between both parties.

“We also observe that the power tussle between the Minister and the Director General, NSC was largely responsible for the scraping of the commission the last time.

“So there is great need for a clear demarcation of the duties of these principal officers in the new look NSC.”

He also applauded the bills initiative muted by the National Assembly on the establishment of the NSC and a sports university in Ebonyi state.

“The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, would like to thank the National Assembly for coming up with these bills, this shows in a great deal that we have forward-thinking legislators that are not only interested in moving the country forward but also create more opportunities for the youths.

“SWAN supports the establishment of the NSC because it is a model that has worked for Nigeria in the past and it is the trend in the developed countries where sports is real business. In the US, it is called the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), in Australia, it is called Sport Australia, formally the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport in Australia, In Canada, it is called Sports Canada, in South Africa, the South Africa Sports Commission, in Japan, it is called sports commission of Japan, etc.

While responding, chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, praised SWAN for their fantastic presentation and acknowledged that points raised were genuine and will be considered.

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

20 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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