The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos chapter, in what could be described as a sharp departure from what was obtained in the past, is organising its 2023 SWAN Week with different top-notch innovations blending sports with culture and fashion.
To this end, a Cultural Sports and Traditional Fashion Fiesta put together by the Lagos SWAN will be held this week between 20 and 21 December 2023.
The two-day fiesta will see various traditional sporting events holding on Wednesday at the Dairy Farm Secondary School in Agege, Lagos, while the grand finale of the fiesta is scheduled for the Golfview Hotel and Conference Centre on General Adeyinka Adebayo Road, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Convener and Chief Host, Olatutu Oladunni, who is the chairman of Lagos SWAN disclosed that the 2023 Lagos SWAN will take a different dimension in line with the vision statement of the association to establish and sustain a productive synergy of sports integration with major professional spheres such as health, culture, technology, food/agriculture, tourism and entertainment, to open an unquantifiable exploring opportunity for sports sector and Nigerian youths across boards, which will reassure a promising and lasting future of sports value in all areas.
She said: “We are glad that Lagos SWAN has begun to actualize this mandate as we recently launched an initiative and symposium in September 2023, on Food, Health and Safety, partnering with government institutions and corporate organisations such as Lagos State Ministry of Health, NDLEA, NAFDAC, National Anti-Doping Agency, Federal Ministry of Sports Development and others on the need to advocate healthy lifestyle, and avoid intake of illicit substances that could damage body organs or cause danger to the community.”
Oladunni said that Lagos SWAN wants to use the new branded SWAN Week as an opportunity to showcase the diversities of Nigerian traditional heritage across ethnic groups in Lagos through display of traditional sports ( Ayo Olopon, Ijakaadi, Dambe, Ludo, Kokowa) and traditional entertainment like (Ewi, Ijala, Bata, Gangan -talking drum), adding that traditional costumes will be the order of the day alongside traditional fashion dis play, all in a bid to enhance the commercial value of sports and culture as a bigger selling point.
All attendees are to appear in traditional costumes to add colours to the event on Thursday.
The 2023 Lagos SWAN Week is being organized in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Arts Culture and Tourism, Diplomatic Community in Nigeria, Golf View Suites & Conference Center, Coca-Cola Arewa/Hausawa Royal Dynasty, Amber Energy Drink, GMT Farms, Miteda Wellness, Spartan FC and others.
