The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has congratulated Honourable Ayo Hulayat Omidiran on her recent appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
In a statement issued by the SWAN Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, Thursday, SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin described Omidiran’s appointment as a fitting recognition of her outstanding contributions to public service, politics, and sports administration.
President Benjamin hailed Omidiran’s exceptional leadership record, noting that she has left indelible footprints in both sports and national service.
“Hon. Omidiran has consistently demonstrated integrity, vision, and a passion for fairness in every leadership capacity. From her pioneering achievements in women’s football and service as a FIFA Women’s Committee member, to her impactful tenure in the House of Representatives — where she served on the House Committee on Sports and championed the growth of Nigerian sports — she has been a relentless advocate for development,” Benjamin said.
He added: “We in SWAN are proud to see one of the most outstanding advocates for Nigerian sports take on such a vital national role. Her track record gives us confidence that she will bring the same level of dedication and excellence to the Federal Character Commission as she has always brought to every assignment.”
The SWAN supremo also noted her tenure as a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member and Chairperson of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, her founding of the Omidiran Babes Football Club in the 1990s, and her current role as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, which continues to benefit from her strategic guidance.
SWAN reaffirmed its readiness to support Omidiran in her new assignment, expressing optimism that her wealth of experience will be invaluable in repositioning the FCC to fulfil its constitutional mandate of equity, fairness, and inclusion, while inspiring more sports administrators to aspire to leadership roles beyond the field of play.
