SWAN Praises Otu’s Sports Gains, Demands Sustained Funding, Athlete Welfare

CROSS RIVER, CALABAR – The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Cross River State chapter, has commended the state government for what it described as notable gains in sports development, while urging sustained funding and improved welfare for athletes and coaches.

SWAN Chairman, Michael Akpang, said the renewed attention to sports under Governor Bassey Edet Otu, had produced visible developments in infrastructure, athlete performance, competitions and grassroots sports engagement.

Akpang, in a statement issued in Calabar on Thursday, said the association, as a watchdog in the sports sector, had observed deliberate efforts by the administration to reposition sports as a tool for youth empowerment, talent discovery and state branding.

“As watch dogs in the sports sector, we have observed deliberate efforts by the current administration to reposition sports as a veritable tool for youth empowerment, talent discovery, and state branding,” Akpang said.

He cited the comprehensive upgrade of the State VIP Box at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, as one of the developments that had improved the facility and the experience of officials, dignitaries and stakeholders during sporting events.

Akpang also identified the recent qualification of Cross River’s female football team, Pelican Stars, for the Nigeria Women’s Premier League as evidence of progress in women’s football and grassroots sports development.

According to him, the state’s athletes have also recorded improved performances at national and regional competitions, including the Niger Delta Games in Benin City.

He said the organisation and hosting of competitions such as the Queen’s Cup, Veterans Sports Competition, age-grade tournaments and other grassroots events had created additional platforms for talent discovery.

Akpang further noted that Cross River’s emergence as a host centre for Nigerian Women’s Football League matches had placed Calabar on the national sports map while creating opportunities for local economic activity.

He listed the hosting of the 2023 South South Zonal Elimination Series for the National Youth Games and the MTN Championship on two occasions among other developments recorded under the administration.

The SWAN chairman also described the state’s hosting of the National Council on Sports in 2025 as a significant milestone, saying it had strengthened Cross River’s role in national sports policy discussions.

On the intersection between sports and tourism, Akpang said the inclusion of the International Golfers Cup Tournament in the annual Carnival Calabar calendar offered an opportunity to combine sports, tourism and culture.

He added that preparations for the International Agbokim Falls Green Marathon and Calabar Marathon could further project the state’s tourism assets and attract attention to its sporting potential.

Akpang also commended the ongoing process to domesticate the National Sports Policy in Cross River State, describing it as an important step towards establishing a legal and strategic framework for sports development.

“While we commend these achievements, we urge the state government to sustain and improve upon this feat,” he said.

“There is need for consistent and improved funding, better welfare for athletes and coaches, early preparation for national events, and the continued upgrade of other sporting facilities across the state,” Akpang added.

He called for stronger collaboration among the Ministry of Sports, the Cross River State Sports Commission and media stakeholders to ensure that the state’s sporting achievements receive wider visibility.

Akpang said SWAN would continue to promote and report sports activities in the state while holding administrators and other stakeholders accountable to ensure that sports contributes to youth development, unity and economic empowerment.