Sports
We are ready for better 2022/2023, NLO assures stakeholders
….As Hostilities start Next week Wednesday
Joel Ajayi
Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nationwide League One (NLO), Sola Ogunnowo has revealed that the competition organisers are committed to providing adequate security and medicals to have a better upcoming 2022/2023 league season.
Ogunnowo gave the commitment during a news conference at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, held as part of activities heralding the May 3 kickoff of the amateur league.
He said the league ruling body had put in place adequate security measures for the safety of fans, spectators, players, match officials and other club officials.
“The league season will start by May 3, and in the area of security, we have put in place the best approach in terms of security personnel around the match venues.
“We will work with all the security bodies in the country, such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Boys Scout, and of course private security guards mainly for the match officials.
“We will be having the private security guards for the match officials, because they are usually the target for the irate fans, and we don’t want anything untoward to happen to them,” Ogunnowo said.
The NLO COO also explained that the medical state and status of each player were also a top priority for the league body.
“For the past six years, we have been carrying out comprehensive medical checks on NLO players. Those medical results are put together and sent to the FIFA.
“FIFA is very much interested in our medical results because it forms part of their own research and documentation as well. We have been working with FIFA medical network for a long time now.
“We hardly have a case of an NLO player who collapsed on the pitch because those issues would have been detected during the medical screenings.
“At the same time, we also ensure that all NLO players have insurance cover which is done at the registration level.
“We have Accident and Life insurance cover for the players, which is part of the money paid for registration,” Ogunnowo added.
The NLO is the third-tier of the country’s domestic league, with more than 300 clubs and academies fighting for honours.
Meanwhile, the NLO Secretariat has unveiled a two-week programme which will define the smooth commencement of the season.
The 2022/2023 NLO Division One season will kick off with a Kano derby between Kano Pillars Jnr and Kwankwasiya FC at the Sani Abacha Stadium on May 3.
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
