Sports

NLO 2023 Season Gets New Kick-Off Date

Published

4 years ago

April 20, 2023

Joel Ajayi
The much-awaited 2023 season of the Nationwide League One (NLO) will officially kick off on Wednesday May 3rd, according to a directive from the Secretariat.

Though it has suffered a second shift in the proposed kickoff date, in keeping with its commitments made to clubs, the Secretariat of the nation’s third-tier domestic league moved forward by a week the commencement of the new season in the best interest of all parties.

The season schedule returns to the Stadium League Format, after it was adopted and vetoed in February by the NLO Congress held virtually, as it considered the security, economic and political challenges in the country.

According to the NLO Media Channel, an official statement on Thursday gave reasons for a shift in date.

“All is still in top gear to commence the season without hitches in terms of the logistics we have put in place for the Stadium League Format,” said the NLO’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Olushola Ogunnowo.

“On the other hand, a few clubs have slowed our activities as they were yet to complete their player’s registration processes.

“Players registration by all the clubs before the kickoff of the season, is imperative to the NLO, as it’s never our norm to start the season with a fire brigade approach.

“We also considered the knockout football competition, Federation Cup which is at the Round of 32 stages. A few NLO teams are still in the race for the trophy, so it won’t be fair if the Secretariat doesn’t consider such teams when releasing the fixtures for the season.

“Having moved the commencement date by a week, we are certain that the affected clubs will use this window to finalize their player’s registration for the season,” Ogunnowo stressed.

Meanwhile, the NLO will host a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday April 26, where it will make a massive announcement as regards its new sponsors

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Sports

SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism

Published

8 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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