Cross River SWAN Inaugurates New Executives 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

The Cross River State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has new executives that will run the affairs of the association in the next three years after many years of leadership crises 

The New Executives were inaugurated at a Special Congress  held at the Media Tribune, U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, brought together members, veterans and national officers of the association, which was seen as a major step toward restoring unity and professionalism among sports journalists in the state.

Declaring the congress open, Chairman of the SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO), Comrade Isoni Isoni, described the event as a historic milestone for the association.

He recalled that SWAN was formed in 1964 as a national body for sports journalists and operates under the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

“SWAN operates under the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), which is our mother body,” he said, noting that the association remains the only sports journalism body recognized by the Federal Government and the international community for sports reportage.

Isoni outlined SWAN’s role in grassroots sports development, explaining that the body helps to discover talents at the grassroots and project them to the national stage through publicity.

He added that SWAN also explains government sports programmes to local communities and offers advisory input on sports policies.

He acknowledged that the Cross River chapter had been weakened by internal disputes in recent years but said members had resolved to move forward.

“Today, we are united again as a body. We have buried our differences and turned a new leaf,” he stated.

Welcoming the reconciliation, two Veteran journalists, comrade Charles Eniang and comrade Anietie Akpang said the congress marked the end of a prolonged crisis and expressed confidence that the association would emerge stronger, while urging the new leadership to provide purposeful direction and respect the three-year tenure to avoid a repeat of past problems.

They commended the National president of SWAN, Comrade Isaiah Benjamin and Deputy President Comrade Boni Nyong, for helping to stabilize the State chapter of the association 

In his remarks, SWAN National Deputy President, Comrade Boni Nyong, described the development as a “new beginning” for the Cross River chapter.

He noted that crises were not uncommon in unions, especially among intellectuals, but said leadership should be judged by its ability to manage disagreements.

“If you know where you are going, you won’t listen to every distraction,” he said, urging members to remain focused. He emphasised transparency and encouraged veterans to mentor the new officers.

In his inaugural speech, the newly sworn-in Chairman of Cross River SWAN,  Mike Akpang of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), thanked the national leadership, SWANECO, veterans and members for their support.

He pledged to rebuild the association in the state and to justify the confidence reposed in his team.

The new executive team is made  up of Mike Akpang as the new Chairman, Vice Chairman, Comrade Essien as Secretary, Tina Todo as Treasurer, Musa Kutama  Financial Secretary, while Comrade Ekpo James took the position of Welfare Officer.