SWAN

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) election which took place on Thursday July 13, 2023 in Omoku, Rivers State has ended with new hope for Sports media practitioners from Ebonyi State.

The emergence of Ijeoma Peter Nwante, a Sport Reporter with NTA Abakaliki , as the National Financial Secretary of SWAN in the just concluded election is the first time a media practitioner from Ebonyi State would break into the National Executive body of the SWAN. Speaking exclusively with Sports Intelligence Magazine following her emergence as the National Financial Secretary of the apex sport writers’ body in the country, Ijeoma who has a knack for quality administration believes that her emergence will not just help in the sustenance of the principles of the current SWAN, but a high of relief for the Ebonyi people. “I am proud to become the first person from Ebonyi State to be elected into the National Executive Council of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)” Ijeoma started. “For more than 27 years, Ebonyi have never had anyone to serve in SWAN at the national level, it’s a good development and am happy to have accomplished this feat” she said. The pretty-looking lady and mother of three who broke the 27-year-old absence of Ebonyi at the National Executive Council also believe that her emergence would pave way for her people to follow up. “I am just the first” she said, “but I am sure that other sports media practitioners in Ebonyi State will follow my track and one day we will have a second, third and many more serving at the national level of SWAN” she insisted. On her aspirations, Ijeoma insisted that she has to first give her best having gotten the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and is optimistic that her performance will determine what tomorrow will hold for her in the sport media world generally. “For now, my target is to ensure I give a good account of myself with the opportunity given to me to serve at the national level as financial Secretary”. “I also believe that my performance will give room for other opportunities, both in SWAN and other levels both nationally and globally". When prompted to speak on her source of inspiration for declaring to contest for the position of National Financial Secretary, Ijeoma revealed that the outgone President of SWAN Sir. Honour Sirawoo was a source of inspiration and has helped her in her decisions. "Sir Honour Sirawoo has been a source of inspiration to me, and his desire to have things done through due process and also ensuring that SWAN is independent with the goal of improving the association to meet global standard of practice played a role in my decision to come out for the position. I must not fail to thank him for his encouragement". Ijeoma Peter Nwante is the only female that was elected in the 2023 Triennial Delegates Congress and so much will be expected of her as she looks forward to ensuring transparency and accountability in the newly elected executive.