Sports
FG Felicitates With Oborodudu on Her Award As Wrestler of The Month
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar has said that Nigeria felicitates and congratulates the country’s Silver Olympic Medallist, Blessing Oborodudu who was conferred with wrestler of the month award by the United World Wrestling Bureau.
Alhaji Ismaila who disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja stated that Nigeria is proud of our athletes, assuring that the Ministry will continue to create an enabling environment for them to excel in their sporting career.
“We felicitate with our Silver Olympic Medallist, Blessing Oborodudu on this award. We congratulate her and we are proud of her as a nation. As a Ministry, we will continue to support all our athletes to ensure they compete favourably with their counterparts globally so as to record more podium performances for our dear nation,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary used the opportunity to call on all sports loving Nigerians and philanthropists to join hands with the President Asiwaju Bola-Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration by taking advantage of the new Sports Industry Policy to invest in sports with a view to developing the sector for the benefit of our teeming youth.
He explained that with the new policy, sports is no longer a mere re-creation but a business and thus, urged all relevant stakeholders in the industry to invest in the sector for the benefit of our young athletes as well as our economy as that is the practice the world over. Government, he added, “cannot do it alone.”
Alhaji Ismaila further called on Sporting Federations to ensure they put on their best and technical know-how in order to record more podium appearances in all international competitions for our country.
Recall that after 7 months of layoff due to surgery, the Commonwealth champion, Blessing Oborodudu returned to her full fitness with a gold medal at the recently concluded African Senior Wrestling championships in Hammamet Tunisia and was handed a record of 13th title at the African events.
Sports
SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism
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.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured7 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
