Sports
Volleyball: National U18 Camp opens May 31st
Hundreds of U18 volleyball players are expected to storm Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna for the National Open U18 Boys and Girls Camp billed for 31st May to 4th June, 2023.
The open camp is to select players who will represent the country for the 2023 African U17 Boys and Girls Nations Championship scheduled to hold from 6th to 16th July, 2023 in Nigeria.
The Technical Representative on the board of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Chief Martin Melandi revealed that the Federation wants to create a level playing ground for players from different parts of the country.
Melandi cautioned academy and state coaches to avoid releasing overaged players for the open camp.
He said, “The Federation has a policy which encourages equity and fairness in the selection of players for the national teams. We are trying to select the best hands that can make the country proud ahead of the African U17 Boys and Girls Nations Championship to be hosted by Nigeria in July.
“I am making an appeal to all the coaches in the various academies and states not to send players over the age of 18 years old. I am aware the National Youth Games is a platform where children under the age of 15 participates and I have seen younger players feature in the Division 1 and 2 Leagues respectively.
“Players who will be participating in the Division 1 and 2 Leagues are exempted from the open camp as coaches will be sent to select more players leagues in Imo State.
“The Federation wants to set a standard where we can be sure of parading younger players who stand the test of time in the next decade.”
The former international national referee commended the board member of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation for ensuring the open camp is embarked on to select players.
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.
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