“We did not enter into any partnership with Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) on the forth coming event tagged Celebrating sports icon@60 awards, the federal ministry of youth and sports,” has stated.
Reacting to a statement credited to Jude Opara who claims to be representing SWAN, the spokesman to honorable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr John Joshua Akanji, disclosed that the ministry is not in any partnership with SWAN or any Journalist, but only asked Sports Journalists to be part of the awards by nominating through a dedicated Twitter handle
“We did not enter into any partnership with SWAN regarding celebrating Nigerian Sports Icons@60 Awards, what we did was to invite Sports Writers to participate in the nomination process via our Twitter handle
“I called on Sports Journalists, editors and broadcasters all over the country to nominate sports personalities of their choice for the awards. We did not enter any partnership with any group as reported in a publication” the Special Assistant on media to the minister stated.
Also Reacting, the President of SWAN, Comrade Ahmed Aigbona, said it was unfortunate that some elements in SWAN chose to misrepresent the sporting media by claiming a partnership that does not exist, urging the author, Jude Opara to desist from misinforming members of the public henceforth.
Comrade Aigbona called on veteran sports journalists, sports editors, broadcasters and sports writers all over the country to key into the program by nominating sports persons serving or retired who have excelled in Olympic Games, All Africa Games, Commonwealth games or Africa cup of Nations etc
“Finally, we want to restate our support to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports even as we also pray that the planned event be successful.
“I am also using this opportunity to inform our members through their various state leadership to ensure their full participation in the nomination process via Twitter handle icons@60,” comrade Aigbona said.