By Kingsley Uzowulu
Members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Imo State chapter, on Tuesday, 7th February 2023, paid a solidarity and appreciation visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Culture in his office at the state secretariat.
The chairman of SWAN, Everest Ezihe, in his opening remarks thanked the Hon. Commissioner, Declan Emelumba, for the kindness and love shown thus far to members of SWAN and indeed the journalists in the state.
He stated that the administration of the Executive Governor of the state is the only government that has considered the interest of SWAN since the creation of the state and solicited for more support.
Rotarian Ezihe also said that the Imo State govt is doing well in sports and appealed to the government to restore school sports, state sports festival, Handball, hockey and so many sports that are veritable sources for discovering hidden talents In the state.
SWAN through the chairman also lamented of the state of Heartland Football Club with the players owed close to six months salaries and the female team Heartland Queens also owed five months unpaid salaries.
He pleaded for the club to be managed by technocrats instead of the case today where same is managed by the politicians. Other requests made by the SWAN chairman includes the following;
To help SWAN in organizing a seminar; reception of lmo contingents to the national sports festival; to carry SWAN along in the scheme of things; and to help SWAN with a Bus to ease their movements especially when on an assignment.
In his response the Hon. Commissioner thanked members of SWAN for the accolades showered on him but stated that whatever he has achieved was via the governor and he only deserves the commendations.
He said that the governor is a sports loving person and observed that if not for the insecurity in the state activities like the school sports, festival etc would been held and promised that as soon the atmosphere becomes calm such will definitely be a thing of the past.
He promised that the issues raised by SWAN will be presented before the sports loving governor. Highlight of the meeting was the presentation of a plaque by the association to the commissioner.
