CROSS RIVER, CALABAR – The National Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, South South zone, Comrade Bonny Nyong, has charged the newly inaugurated SWAN Cross River executive to embrace discipline, humility, and ethical leadership.
Nyong delivered the charge shortly after the inauguration ceremony in Calabar, stressing that leadership within professional bodies demands sacrifice, institutional loyalty, and responsible conduct beyond personal ambition.
Speaking from experience, the vice president cautioned the new chairman against arrogance, explaining that leadership growth in SWAN follows gradual service through various levels of responsibility.
“You don’t know where you are going to end,” Nyong said, recounting his rise from Public Secretary to Chairman before becoming Vice President, urging patience and respect for organizational processes.
According to our Truthlivenews correspondent in Calabar, Nyong emphasized that long-term service equips leaders with knowledge needed to navigate crises and sustain ethical standards within the association.
He advised the executive to leverage the goodwill surrounding their emergence by initiating credible programmes that promote unity, professionalism, and visibility for sports writers in Cross River State.
“I want to hear that you have a programme in Cross River. Call me, I will come,” Nyong said, pledging to donate a media sports trophy to encourage competitive excellence.
The vice president warned against external interference, insisting that SWAN leadership must operate independently, free from political godfathers whose influence could compromise institutional integrity and ethical judgment.
“I don’t want my SWAN head to function where somebody will be lurking behind,” he said, citing examples from Rivers and Bayelsa states where independent leadership strengthened association credibility.
Nyong also cautioned against indiscipline and abuse of privilege, recalling past national engagements where misconduct denied officials opportunities and damaged the image of the association.
He noted that leadership positions often appear attractive but require availability, responsibility, and moral strength, stressing that members must be at “the right place at the right time.”
Nyong reaffirmed that SWAN remains the only nationally recognized body for sports writers, advising governments to consult the association appropriately on sports development matters.
He urged the Cross River executive to design member-focused programmes, maintain proper records, think creatively, and reduce overdependence on state government patronage for sustainability.
The vice president further warned against ruling perpetually, calling on the executive to respect tenure limits, nurture future leaders, and strengthen internal democracy within the chapter.
In separate remarks, SWAN Election Committee commended SWAN Cross River members, urging unity, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence, describing the association as a vital segment of civil society.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, praised the SWAN leadership, calling for reconciliation and the resolution of lingering internal differences among members.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated SWAN Cross River Chairman, Comrade Mike Akpang, thanked SWANECO for what he described as a transparent and credible congress.
Akpang acknowledged SWAN elders and veterans, pledging inclusive leadership and ethical conduct, saying leadership is a collective responsibility aimed at advancing sports journalism in the state.