The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Alhaja Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has been officially inaugurated as the maiden Matron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
The investiture took place during SWAN’s 2026 National Triennial Delegates Congress in Kaduna, where association leadership laid out a multi-year roadmap focused on professionalism, digital integration, and member welfare.
SWAN National President Isaiah K. Benjamin welcomed delegates from all 36 states and the FCT, framing the gathering as a vital opportunity to strengthen institutional governance.
‘This Triennial Delegates Congress is more than a statutory gathering,’ Benjamin stated. ‘It is an opportunity for us to take stock of where we are coming from, examine where we are today, and chart a clear and progressive course for where we want SWAN to be in the years ahead.’
Benjamin emphasized that the future of Nigerian sports journalism must rely on fact-based reporting, technology integration, continuous capacity building, and improved working conditions. He called on governments, corporate bodies, and sports federations to view SWAN not just as a press body, but as a strategic partner in sports development.
‘Let us build bridges rather than walls,’ Benjamin urged. ‘History will judge us not by the positions we occupied, but by the institutions we strengthened and the legacy we left behind.’
Accepting the role of SWAN Matron, Omidiran pledged active institutional support, citing her nearly 30-year relationship with the Nigerian sports media community dating back to her founding of the women’s football club Omidiran Babes.
‘I accepted immediately,’ Omidiran said of the nomination. ‘I will serve the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria to the best of my capability and do everything within my capacity to support the association and contribute to the growth and development of sports journalism in Nigeria.’