The National leadership of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria, SWAN, on Friday, bestowed DISTINGUISHED AWARD on seven great sons and daughter of Nasarawa State after honouring Governor Abdullahi Sule with the highest award, during its 60th anniversary celebration event held at the VIP Lounge of the National Stadium, Abuja.
The State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, was honoured for his steady turnaround in the Sports Ministry, which has seen the State’s teams and athletes excel at regional, national and international sports spectrums, particularly Nasarawa United Football Club in the Nigeria Premier Football League, and Nasarawa Amazons, in the country’s Women’s premier football league.
Kwanta previously served as Aide to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth and Sports Development, before his appointment as Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, where he served for two terms, before being reappointed and redeployed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Former Chairman of Nasarawa United FC and longest-serving Chairman of the NPFL Club Owners’ Association, who currently serves as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Nasarawa State, Barr. Isaac Danladi, was presented with the same award, for his immense contributions to sports in Nigeria.
Before being elected as Honourable Commissioner, Danladi had served as Permanent Secretary in the State’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and member of various sports Boards.
Former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State and Director General of National Directorate of Employment, His Excellency, Hon. Silas Agara, was conferred with the Distinguished Award for his intimidating profile in sports administration, both as Commissioner and Special Adviser on Youth and Sports in Nasarawa State, and President of the Nigerian Karate Federation rising to the Vice President position in Africa, and currently as Chairman of the Nationwide League One, the third-tier league with the largest number of registered football clubs in Africa.
The State Accountant General and former two-term Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Dr. Musa Ahmed Mohammed (Barade), was honoured with the prestigious recognition for constantly supporting grassroots sports development and talent nurturing, including floating a third-tier football club, City Rollers FC of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State.
Salisu Usman Galadima, Chairman of the State Football Association, was decorated by SWAN for his innovative initiatives and programmes aimed at transforming football and talents across the State.
Founder and owner of Basira FC, a second division club which recently won the Gusau/Ahlan Nigeria National League Pre-season tournament in Bauchi State after beating Yobe Desert Stars, Salisu Galadima, is on a meteoric rise in football administration, defying the odds.
Another prominent indigene of Nasarawa State who received the SWAN award was the Chairperson of the State-owned Women’s Premier Football Club, Nasarawa Amazons, Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo.
Hussaina, who formerly served as Vice Chairperson of the Nigeria Women’s Premier Football League Board has steered the club to win national laurels, including the National FA Cup, finished thrice in second position of three regular football seasons and twice as FA Cup runners-up, as well as winning two major Pre-seasons’ tournaments in Benin City and Yenagoa respectively.
Her knack for excellence has positioned her for worthy mentions at various sporting fora as she continues to blaze the trail.
Comrade Smah George is a renowned sports journalist with the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS, and is the current Chairman of SWAN, Nasarawa State Chapter.
Since his election, he has brought innovation, improved professionalism and healthy competition among practicing sports journalists in the State, and building mutually beneficial synergies with stakeholders and organisations across boards.
Smah was honoured with the SWAN FELLOW AWARD.
According to the National President of SWAN, Comrade Benjamin Isaiah, the awards were in recognition of the recipients’ remarkable administrative achievements and stellar contributions to the growth and development of sports and talents in the State and country as a whole.
The historic ceremony was attended by prominent Nigerian leaders, Governors, sports luminaries, government and private individuals, distinguished sports stakeholders, including journalists, administrators, athletes, and technical officials.
Highlights of the four-day long SWAN diamond jubilee celebration and awards ceremony featured lectures, investiture, appeal fundraising for the construction of SWAN’s National Secretariat, novelty football match between SWAN versus staff of the National Sports Commission, and SWAN Full Council Meeting.
