The president of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Isaiah Benjamin, has been urged to bring all warring factions in association under one umbrella if he hopes to accomplish any meaningful success as the leader of the body.
The president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, gave the advice on Thursday when SWAN president and his new executive committee paid him a courtesy visit at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, saying it is the only way the football body can comfortably work with the association.
He also urged the new leadership of SWAN to cement their relationship with the mother body, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
“SWAN presidency is a very tasking job, and If you really want to succeed, you must bring all the factions that exist in the association together as one. That is the only way we can be comfortable to have a good relationship with you.
“So, the greatest task ahead of you now is to make sure you bring everybody together, and whatever you feel we can do to help you achieve that we are ready to do it.
“Also, you also need to find a way of working in harmony with the NUJ, because there is no way the two bodies can be separated from one another.
“I am well aware of the power of the media, and that is why we involve sports journalists in some committees in order to forge better relationships and understanding. We are more than ever ready to collaborate with SWAN to help tell our story to the world,” Gusau assured.
Earlier, SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin commeded the NFF President for inclusion of some of its members in the recently-constituted NFF sub-committees, as well as the governing boards of the Leagues.
“I must express our appreciation for your inclusion of a number of our members in your committees, including the boards of the Leagues. It is a welcome development and I assure you that those members will perform optimally and professionally, as that is the only way we know how to work.
“I also want to request for more inclusiveness of our members in your activities, events and programmes. It is better for them to be part of the programmes and witness how they run than gathering them at the end of those programmes to inform them. At that point, they would not be in the best position to report those programmes and events correctly and appropriately.”