Sports

Chairman House Committee on Sports meets Stakeholders.

Published

3 years ago

July 31, 2023

…Congratulates Falcons

The newly appointed Chairman of the House of Representatives Sports Committee Honourable Ekene Adams Abubakar has hit the ground running as he is set to meet with critical Sports stakeholders in Abuja on Thursday August 3rd to chart a new course for Sports.

According to the accomplished Administrator and former General Manager of Remo Stars, the meeting which will take place at the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja will be attended by Presidents of all the 36 Sports Federations, The Nigerian Olympics Committee, Premier League Club owners, Nation wide league and other league boards , NFF, Referees, Ex Internationals, players Union, The National Institute for sports, Former Sports Minister, coaches, Lottery Board, EFCC, ICPC and Corporate organizations.

Also expected at the event are the Nigerian Olympians Association, the Nigerian Police Force, Medical Practioners, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Ministries of Youth and Sports, Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Nigerian School’s Sports Federation amongst others.

He assured that the meeting will set the tone for a robust, renewed policy direction for Nigerian Sports as well as to seek areas of mutual benefits in the best interest of Nigerian Sports.

Honourable Abubakar assured that the era of bickering, bitterness and working at cross purposes was over. ” We should all come together to forge a new direction for our sports. We have to work together with the Executive Arm of Government and all stakeholders to actualize our collective dreams.

Sports can only thrive when there is peace and harmony among the stakeholders.
Sports Unites us as a people, so we should deploy it to foster peace, unity, progress and development of our great country.
Having played the game to the highest level,administered it as a club owner, I feel the pains of all stakeholders. Let’s put the past bad experiences behind us and focus on a bright future. We are not doing the youths any good if we don’t put the interest of the country first. We need to rally round each other to make things work well for everyone”

Meanwhile, the Chairman has described the Female National team the Super Falcons as a beacon of hope for not only Nigeria, but the African continent.While commending the team’s impressive performance at the on- going Fifa Women World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, he urged them not to rest on their oars until they secure the ultimate price”

Congratulations Falcons, we are so proud of you. We are solidly behind you, please don’t relax until you get to the finals and God willing win the trophy. You have lifted the spirit of millions of Nigerians, so don’t relent until victory is secured.”

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Sports

SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism

Published

10 hours ago

October 26, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.

Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.

According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.

Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.

He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.

The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.

Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.

He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.

Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.

He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.

He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.

“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.

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