SWAN Hails NDDC For Niger Delta Sports Festival Initiative
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has commended the Board and Management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for taking the initiative to organise Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) as a veritable means of harnessing grassroots talents within the region.
President of SWAN, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, in a statement, said he has taken a closer look in both the preparations and other steps leading to the sporting events and observed that the organisers have placed high premium in the core development of especially the Niger Delta People and indeed Nigerians through sports.
He said their dedication and contribution in the sports development of Nigeria are worthy of emulation.
“What the current NDDC Board and Management are doing is exactly what we have been talking and writing about. Various government agencies, even private enterprise need to emulate and implement what NDDC is doing.
“Any organisation that channels its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to sports demonstrates high level responsibility and commitment to human development infrastructure which has direct impact on individual and families’ needs and uttermost desire for better living standards.
“From the upcoming NDSF, new Blessing Okagbare, Tobi Amusan and so on will surely be discovered. From antecedents, any raw talent discovery in sports who is nurtured to stardom deletes poverty from his or her lineage,” he said.
While expressing confidence in the abilities of various working committee to deliver in line with their mandates, the number one sports writer in Nigeria called for heightened diligence and devotion in the organisation of the competition.
He also enjoined NDDC to consider making the competition an annual event due to numerous socio-economic and other advantages it has on the society.
