Sports

SPORTS MINISTER INSPECTS MKO ABIOLA TRAINING PRACTICE PITCH 1

Published

3 years ago

May 6, 2023

Minister of sports, Sunday Dare on Friday inspected the Moshood Abiola Stadium Training Pitch 1 to examine the level of the development, with barely few weeks to be handed over to the Ministry.

Afrikings Homes Ltd adopted the training pitch to fix the natural grass that has worn out, due to much pressure without consistent maintenance.

With the adoption, Afrikings Homes has joined the growing list of organizations that have keyed into the ministry’s Adopt-An-Infrastructure Project, which began three years ago. Maintenance of the pitch for the next two years will be done by Afrikings homes which is part of the agreement of Memorandum of understanding, between the sports Ministry and Afrikings Homes limited.

Speaking during the visit to the training pitch, elated Sunday Dare praised the Chairman of Afrikings Homes, Kingsley Awodi for his passion in sports development and also being one of those who keyed into the initiative.

Dare was satisfied with the improvement in re-grassing the pitch, hoping it will be completed and delivered to the Ministry before the hand over date. He expressed satisfaction with the job done, as the water sprinklers were working perfectly.

“We need to encourage and appreciate a young man like Kingsley Awodi for his passion in sports development, by adopting the training pitch with the aim of putting it in shape for the national teams. They have done a great job here and hopefully it will be completed and handed to the Ministry before the end of this month”.

Dare, during the inspection stated the his administration has witnessed rehabilitation of sporting venues and infrastructures such as; the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, and the Daura Township Stadium.

In his remarks, Kingsley Awodi the Chairman Afrikings Homes Ltd said, “You can be rest assured of our continued support. We keyed into the initiative when we saw how abandoned stadium worn new looks and have hosted many FIFA and CAF competitions. We want to be part of history and write our names among those who supported good initiative.

“We shouldn’t allow our stadiums to collapse. Nigerians have a very strong love for Sports, so I think we need to complement government’s efforts, to ensure that everything works.

“We saw how minister’s initiative has turned around the stadium that was once abandoned and now hosting international matches”.

“We want to be part of those who supported good initiatives”, Kingsley Awodi concluded.

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Sports

SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism

Published

5 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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