BY SHOMADE ADEBAYO MOSES
Ahead of annual global sports AIPS Congress, the President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Isaiah Benjamin is slated to take-off and arrive Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday.
The Congress is scheduled between May 13 and 17, 2025 with Delegates from Africa and other parts of the world expected to attend.
The SWAN President who will be accompanied by the Association’s Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, will engage in global connections and discussions that will better the affairs of sports in Nigeria.
In a statement on Sunday, President Benjamin said, “This year’s AIPS Congress is significant in many ways as it returns to Africa after 20 years. Expectations are high with the calibre of Sports Journalists and other Sports Stakeholders lined up to grace the epoch gathering.
“The focus of the Congress being on the modern technology advancement with Artifical Intelligence (AI) as the talking point most recently, I’m confident that the resolutions will be far-reaching and fulfilling.”
He then commended the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, for his visionary leadership since assuming office few months ago and the huge supportive role he played in ensuing that Nigeria will be well represented in Morroco.
The President of SWAN also thanked the leadership of Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), with Engr. Habu Gumel as its President, Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike as well as other stakeholders for their relentless support and partnership with the sporting media.
In Morocco, Africa will be hosting the most important gathering of sports journalists in the world after the 2005 elective congress in Marrakech proved to be a major turning point in the history of this 100-year-old association.
The milestone AIPS award slated for Tuesday May 13, will be streamed live on YouTube.
The SWAN delegation as well as the immediate past AIPS (Africa) President, Dr. Mitchell Obi, are expected back to Nigeria on May 18.
The SWAN President will then proceed to the National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games in Abeokuta, Ogun State.