Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has dedicated his honour at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria 60th Anniversary Distinguished Service Awards to sports journalists across the country, describing them as key drivers of sports development and public engagement in Nigeria.
Dikko was among the distinguished personalities recognised at the Diamond Jubilee event held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja where SWAN celebrated individuals who have made notable contributions to the growth of sports and sports journalism over the last sixty years. He expressed deep appreciation for the recognition and described it as a call to serve the industry with greater commitment.
He commended SWAN for its long-standing role in promoting professionalism, integrity and accountability through objective reporting. According to him, the association has continued to influence public perception and encourage positive reforms in the sports sector. Dikko expressed his desire to strengthen collaboration with SWAN and pledged sustained support for sports development, media access and improved infrastructure across sporting federations.
The awards ceremony was part of activities marking SWAN’s 60th anniversary which featured a National Sports Media Summit, thanksgiving services held across the country and the launch of a two point one billion naira appeal fund for the construction of a permanent SWAN national headquarters in Abuja.
SWAN President, Mr Isaiah Benjamin, praised the honourees, describing them as dependable partners in the advancement of sports journalism and sports development in Nigeria. He noted that the recipients were chosen for their consistent support to the association and their role in strengthening ethical standards in sports reporting.
Other notable recipients of the awards included Director General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Bukola Olopade, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Sunday Dare, and Special Assistant on Media to the NSC Director General, Mr Kola Adeyanju also known as Kola Daniel. Daniel, who received the Outstanding Support to SWAN Award, thanked the association for the honour and promised to continue contributing to sports and media development.
Mr Benjamin added that the Diamond Jubilee celebrations renewed SWAN’s resolve to uphold excellence, integrity and the continuous advancement of sports journalism in Nigeria.