The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), South East Zone — Enugu State Chapter — in conjunction with the national body, has expressed deep concern over the exclusion of its members from the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 23rd National Sports Festival (NSF), inaugurated on June 18, 2025, in Enugu.
SWAN considers this omission not only regrettable but entirely unacceptable. As a vital stakeholder in the advancement, promotion, and organization of sports across the country, the association plays an indispensable role in ensuring robust media coverage, effective public engagement, and strategic communication — all of which are critical to the success of a national sporting event of this magnitude.
Representing the association, SWAN South East Vice President, Mr. Ikemefuna Asika, and Zonal Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Onwunali, emphasized that excluding SWAN from the LOC undermines its long-standing contributions to sports development and disregards the pivotal role that sports journalism plays in Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem.
They therefore urge the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Enugu State Government to urgently reconsider the composition of the LOC and include SWAN representatives. Doing so will promote inclusivity, transparency, and balance in the planning and execution of the 23rd National Sports Festival.
