Former President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Sani Mohammed Zaria, and National Patron Moses Andishu have called on Nigerian sports journalists to reclaim their role as independent watchdogs and agenda-setters to drive national development.
Speaking at the SWAN 2026 Triennial Delegates Congress in Kaduna, Zaria-who led the association from 1996 to 2002-warned members against sacrificing professional credibility for access, favors, or material benefits.
‘We must not merely report the game; we must help change the game. We must not merely follow the agenda; we must set the agenda,’ Zaria charged delegates.
Zaria urged sports writers to proactively scrutinize appointments, public budgets, policy decisions, facility upkeep, and athlete welfare rather than reacting only when failures occur.
To formalize this shift, he proposed a seven-point agenda centred on investigative reporting, sports governance monitoring, grassroots advocacy, and ethical standards. He also advocated transforming SWAN into a media think tank that produces periodic ‘State of Nigerian Sports’ reports and hosts accountability forums for sports administrators.
Echoing Zaria’s call, SWAN National Patron Moses Andishu delivered a keynote address on ‘Harnessing the Power of Sports and the Media for National Development, Youth Empowerment, and Global Competitiveness.’
Andishu questioned whether current reporting adequately holds officials accountable for systemic issues, citing dilapidated infrastructure and declining attention to domestic leagues. He urged journalists to reject factionalism, combat misinformation, and champion opportunities for young athletes.
Host chairman Shehu Abdullahi of the Kaduna State SWAN chapter stressed unity ahead of the association’s leadership transition, reminding delegates that ‘leadership comes and goes, but the association remains.’
He called for peaceful elections alongside continuous digital and data journalism training for members.