Nigeria @ 66: SWAN Calls For Sustainable Sports Structures, Inclusive Development
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Isaiah Benjamin, has called for a deliberate and sustained approach to sports development as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, stressing the need to build strong structures capable of delivering lasting excellence across all sporting disciplines.
In his 66th Independence Day message through the Association’s Secretary General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo on October 1, 2026, President Benjamin congratulated Nigerians and urged the Federal Government, state governments, sports federations, the private sector and other stakeholders to reposition sports as a strategic instrument for youth development, national unity, employment and economic growth.
The SWAN President said Nigeria’s impressive pool of sporting talents must be matched with good, sustainable and enduring structures that can outlive individual administrations and leadership tenures, stressing that sporting development should not be repeatedly disrupted by changes in leadership.
He emphasised that such structures must be developed through broad-based and inclusive engagement involving athletes, coaches, administrators, sports federations, government agencies, the private sector, the media, former athletes and other critical stakeholders in the sporting ecosystem.
“As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence, we must begin to think beyond individual administrations and personalities. We need to build good and sustainable structures that can outlive leadership and deliver durable excellence across all sports. Our sporting development must be institutionalised, not dependent on who occupies an office at a particular time,” Benjamin said.
“No single individual or institution has all the answers. We need the ideas, experience and input of all stakeholders. There must be genuine and inclusive engagement where people can contribute, deliberate and collectively develop solutions that will stand the test of time,” he stated.
Benjamin called for stronger grassroots sports development through schools, and communities, stressing that the country must establish clear pathways for identifying, nurturing and transitioning young talents from grassroots competitions to elite and professional sports.
He also advocated improved sporting facilities, coaching development, athlete welfare, regular competitions and stronger technical structures across the various sporting federations, stressing that excellence cannot be achieved without consistent investment and proper systems.
“We must catch them young, but catching them young is only the beginning. We must have a system that identifies talent, develops it, protects, harness the athlete – both home and abroad, provides quality coaching and gives that athlete a pathway to the highest level. This must apply across football, athletics and every other sport where Nigeria has potential,” Benjamin said.
The SWAN President further said that sports could provide young Nigerians with opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship and international exposure, while also helping to address youth restiveness by engaging them productively.
“Leadership will change, but institutions must remain. Policies and programmes that are working should be strengthened and improved, not abandoned simply because there is a change of leadership. That is how we build continuity, institutional memory and sustainable excellence,” he added.
Benjamin also called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector, while reaffirming SWAN’s commitment to playing its part through professional and responsible sports journalism.
“As sports writers, we are not only reporters of events, we are stakeholders in the development of Nigerian sports. We will continue to use our platforms to promote accountability, celebrate achievement and encourage the conversations and reforms required to move our sports forward,” Benjamin said.
The SWAN President said the 66th Independence Anniversary should therefore serve as an opportunity for Nigeria to recommit itself to building sports institutions and structures that are sustainable, inclusive and capable of producing excellence across generations.
He urged all stakeholders to work together in developing a long-term sports development framework that places athletes at the centre and provides continuity from grassroots to elite level.
“Our ambition should be to build a sports system that does not collapse when leadership changes; a system where the next generation inherits something stronger than what the previous generation received. That is the kind of legacy we should pursue, and it can only happen through collective ownership and inclusive engagement,” Benjamin stated.
He wished Nigerians at home and abroad a peaceful 66th Independence Anniversary, urging citizens to continue believing in the country’s potential and supporting initiatives that promote unity, youth empowerment and national development through sports.
