Sports Writers across the Country have been urged to focus on the unifying factors of sports for the socio-economic benefit of it in their reportage.
The task was given by the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in the Nineteen Northern States including the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN @60 Church Service held at the the Supernatural Dominion Bible Ministry International, Gonin Gora Kaduna.
He explained that, countries such as Jamaica, Kenya and Ethiopia invest greatly in sports and they are reaping the benefits of it, hence the need for the Sports writers in the country to focus on it enlightenment in order for governments at all levels in the country to invest greatly into it.
“All this is to further bring people together. So if sport writers are celebrating 60, please, we want to use this occasion to encourage you to write more positive stories about sports, how sports can unite people, of different faith, how sports can unite people of different tribes, how sports can unite people of different denominations, how sports can unite people of different communities,” Reverend Hayab, who is also the Country Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), stressed.
“For all of us, despite that we practice faith, sports is part of our lives. We grew up doing sport in schools. We grew up doing sports in different areas. And even in church. Most of us in church today, have introduced sports into our activities because for our youth, one thing we can catch them is to use sports,” he declared.
Hayab said that with greater investments in sports, the current insecurity bedeviling the country could be a thing of the past.
Hayab stressed that investing in the talents of children and future generation should be a priority, as great nations of the world apart from technology, one other thing that makes them famous is sports.
“If you see the enthusiasm, the commitment youth put into sports, then there’s nothing wrong to use sports to catch them. I have seen inter-church competitions. I’ve seen inter-faith competitions. I’ve seen inter-community competitions. Because what this country needs today is unity. If sports can give us unity, let’s hold it. nations of the world are investing millions and trillions of dollars into sports.
According to him, for people who probably don’t know what sports is all about, we watch sports on TV and think that’s all when you march into stadia that we are watching on TV and see the kind of investment associated with it, you will know that sports does not only bring unity, sports also its an economic booster for nations. It creates jobs for them. If we enhance sports, it will be far more than what we are thinking so I salute sports writers at 60,” he said.
Also speaking, SWAN President, Isaiah Benjamin informed that the church service is part of activities lined up to celebrate SWAN @60.
Represented by his SA Media, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, he explained that on Friday all over Nigeria, Juma’at Mosque prayers were held, with the Christians doing same simultaneously across the 36 states and the FCT on Sunday.
He informed that the SWAN @60 activities would gather steam on October 29 in Abuja with the arrival of its full council members from all over the country.
Earlier in his sermon, Brother Philip Adejumo of the Supernatural Dominion Bible Ministry International, underscored the importance of faith in the lives of humans.
He said with faith, nothing is impossible, while charging faithful to always exhibit the virtues of Jesus Christ.
The service was organized by Kaduna SWAN Vice Chairman, Okpani Mike Odeh James, who led members in delivering a vote of thanks at the event.
Cov. Naomi Anzaku.
