Sports

FG Charges newly inaugurated Board to develop para sports to enviable height

Published

4 years ago

July 20, 2022

Joel Ajayi
Federal government has charged the newly elected board members of para sports federations in the country to leave no stone unturned to ensure they develop para sports to an enviable height.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, gave this charge on Wednesday, in Abuja, when he inaugurated the board members of National Para Sports.

Mr Dare, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ismaila Abubakar said, constituting the new Board of National Para Sports Federations is to reinvigorate them in line with the desire of the Government to re-position sports for effective and efficient service delivery and progressive agenda for job and wealth creation for Nigerian teeming youth.

According to him, I wish to emphasize here that Sports Federations are the bedrock of National Sports Development.
“With the mantle of leadership of your Federation vested in you today, you, therefore, have the opportunity to write your names in gold by lifting your sports to enviable heights.

“It is my hope and belief that you will all use your proven integrity, knowledge and resources to render selfless and purposeful service to facilitate effective growth and development of sports in Nigeria. I implore the Federations that will be participating in the 2022 Commonwealth Games to go for the gold and make Nigeria proud.”

However, the Para Sports Federations inaugurated include: Amputee Football, Para-Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Swimming and Para Soccer, while election into the Sitting Volleyball postponed due to some hitches.

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Sports

SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism

Published

16 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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