Sports Journalists Deserve Better Attention, Recognition, SWAN Tells NSC, Others

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) and other stakeholders to provide long-overdue recognition, support, and rewards to Nigerian sports journalists who have, for decades, made significant contributions to the growth and development of sports in the country, often at great personal cost.

In a statement released on Tuesday by SWAN secretary-general, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, on behalf of the president, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, the association lamented the neglect of sports journalists by key actors in the Nigerian sports industry, despite their vital and visible roles.

The SWAN President noted that, unlike in other parts of the world, the media in Nigeria are often left to their own devices, a situation he described as appalling and unacceptable.

While highlighting the many contributions of sports journalists who play essential roles in both the early and advanced stages of athletes, technical officials.

And administrators, President Benjamin stated, “Journalists pay their way to attend and cover events (both local and international). They endure harsh weather conditions, high transportation and accommodation costs, as well as various associated risks, yet administrators and others treat them with disdain.”

Citing the recently concluded 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, SWAN reported that over 25 Nigerian sports journalists attended the tournament at their own expense, receiving no institutional or governmental sponsorship.

These journalists, beyond simply covering the event, also stood out as passionate supporters of the Super Falcons in the stands, amplifying the team’s morale and visibility throughout the competition.

“The experience of a regular sports journalist in Nigeria is so disheartening that many of us endure a great deal without receiving any assistance or recognition,” President Benjamin remarked.

He added: “Journalists pay their own way to attend and cover events (both local and international). They face the rigours of weather, high transport and accommodation costs, along with various associated risks, yet they are often treated with contempt by administrators and others.”

“Despite playing a leading role in the development of sports month after month, year after year, journalists in Nigeria are highly undervalued by administrators, including those in high and strategic positions who should know better.”

President Benjamin commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, and past Nigerian leaders for rewarding athletes and technical officials with cash, housing, and national honours for their achievements. However, he stressed that the media, which plays a foundational role in promoting these successes, must also be acknowledged.

“Yes, the athletes and technical officials deserve to be rewarded and celebrated. However, journalists—as humans—who have shown greater dedication in championing sporting, and indeed economic growth for Nigeria, deserve more.”

“In other countries, the government, corporate organisations, and sports bodies ensure that the sporting media are well cared for, yet in Nigeria, even sports professionals, including high-ranking officials at the former Ministry of Sports, now the National Sports Commission (NSC), see the media as a mere appendage—which ought not to be the case.”

“Often, during the planning and execution of sporting programmes and activities, administrators intentionally sideline the media,” he said.

Referring again to the trend of exclusion, Benjamin questioned the motives of administrators who rely on the media during personal crises but neglect them in institutional engagements.

“Why do sports administrators act as though sports journalists do not matter to them, yet they turn to the same media whenever they are under pressure for personal gain?

“Why is it that the claim of ‘no funds’ always emerges when the media is meant to be part of crucial events, yet administrators manage to ensure their own comfort?”

“In recent times, the neglect has taken on a new dimension, with NSC’s top hierarchy repeatedly excluding SWAN and indeed sports writers from key national and international sporting engagements,” he stated.

The SWAN President urged the leadership of the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and other federations to prioritise inclusive planning and investment, not just in athletes and infrastructure, but also in the welfare and integration of the sporting media as a core stakeholder.