SWAN chairman Plateau State Mr. Andrew Bisyit presenting an award to the General manager Plateau United football club, Mr. Pius Hemwan


By Daniel Dauda, Jos


Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Plateau state chapter, have held its 2021 maiden award presentation.

The award ceremony tagged:" rewarding excellence in performance and  contributions to the development of sports in the communities" was the first of its kind ever since the establishment of SWAN on the Plateau in 1977.

The epoch making event which took place on Friday evening at Eliel Center, Gold and Based, Jos the state capital saw the awardees drawn from individual categories, groups and corporate entities who contributes immensely to the development of sports in Plateau as well as Nigeria over the years.

The award recipients are; General manager Plateau United football club Pius Hemwan, Sir Joseph Ari, the director general industrial training fund (ITF), Professor Seddi Maimako, the former vice Chancellor university of Jos, Coach Ahmed Ibrahim, Murtala Ahmed Laushi and Mr. James Amedu.

Other awardees includes; Alhaji Ismala Mabo, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Chief executive officer (CEO), Hamaz limited, Austin Amity as well as Oche Ochewechi, the Plateau United midfielder amongst others.

While congratulating the awardees, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong said his administration will continue encouraging athletes to do more as he has passion for sports.

The Governor was represented by the Commissioner of youths and sports development, Hon. Victor Lapang assured that preparations is on top gear to hold sports awards in the state soon.

Presenting a paper titled:" youths and sports development in the communities", the director of news and current affairs, Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), Mr. Yakubu Taddy described sports as a unifying factor that bind us together as human beings.

Taddy said Government should make a deliberate policy to boost sports development at the grassroot to aid in addressing social vices among youths in the society such as cultism and drugs abuse.

According to him:" if you don't harvest players locally produced we will always be in problem. Every system must be deliberate and strategic".

He equally charge Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau to expedite action on community sports which would go a long way in providing employment opportunities for both the present and future generations.

Mr. Andrew Bisyit, SWAN chairman Plateau state acknowledged that the rationale behind the award presentation became necessary as the association observed that over the years" our sports men and women do not receive a desire support as expected".

He said SWAN on the Plateau has numerous challenges which includes; office accommodation, vehicle to mentioned but a few, calling on well spirited individual, government and non governmental organizations to come to their aids.