SWAN Urged to Reclaim Influence in Nigerian Sports

Sani Mohammed Zaria, a former national president of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) from 1996 to 2002, called for the association to reclaim its role as a transformative force in Nigerian sports. Speaking at the SWAN Delegates Conference in Kaduna on Thursday, he presented a paper titled “SWAN: Reclaiming Our Place as Game Changers and Agenda Setters in Nigerian Sports.” Zaria emphasized that Nigerian sports are in dire need of direction and leadership, urging sports journalists to reflect on their contributions to the sector's development or decline.

He questioned the current relevance of SWAN and its traditional role as a voice of conscience capable of influencing sports decisions. Zaria highlighted the importance of moving beyond mere event reporting to engage in agenda-setting journalism that challenges policies and demands accountability.

He noted that the strength of SWAN historically lay in its ability to interrogate the systems behind sporting events and influence public opinion.