Anambra SWAN honours sports promoters

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has honoured some individuals for their positive contributions towards sports development in the state.

Among those honoured were Mr Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to Gov Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, Chief Tony Oli, pioneer chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Dr Chukwudi Njelita, Chief Medical Director of Rock Foundation Hospital and Chief Obinna Ezema, Managing Director CEO of Cosmila Suites and Hotel, Awka.

The awards of recognition were conferred on the recipients during the SWAN end of year lectures and recognition ceremony.

The event marked the end of the two-day 2025 edition of SWAN Week by the Anambra chapter of the association, which started with medical outreach during which no fewer than 50 journalists benefited.

According to SWAN, Aburime was honoured for his contributions to the media and support for sports journalism in Anambra State, while CP Ikioye was recognized for his community policing strategy which has stabilized Anambra security environment.

Also, Chief Tony Oli was honoured for his vision and impact in sports, while Dr Chukwudi Njelita, received award for public health advocacy crusade.

Chief Obinna Ezema of Cosmila Suites and Hotel was honoured for promoting sports in the hospitality sector, while Barr Chukwudi Oli got an award for his intervention in sports infrastructure in his community in Nri, Anaocha local government area.

In a lecture entitled “Sudden Death Phenomenon: Why Fitness Alone is not Enough" Njelita called on members of the public to go for regular checks of their vitals such as blood pressure, sugar levels, pulse and oxygen level.

He said blood pressure could only be managed and not cured, encouraging patients with high or low blood pressure to be religious in taking their management medicines, while urging people above 40 years to take vasoprin daily to prevent stroke.

He said that while it is important for people to engage in physical exercise in a bid to keep fit, they should avoid strenuous workouts that could drain them and trigger unhealthy changes in their blood pressure or heartbeat.

On his part, Dr Henry Duru, a lecturer in the Mass Communications Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to prioritize sports as a key economic sector, noting that sports had become both a major industry and external image strategy for advanced countries.

He observed that Anambra State has not shown readiness to harness the opportunities in the sports economy, adding that the transformative success in sports hinges on two foundational pillars namely, strategic Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and purpose driven infrastructure development.

He, however , noted that the scale of investment required for a modern sports ecosystem far exceeded the capacity of government budgets alone, adding that the role of government must evolve from being the sole funder and operator to becoming a strategic facilitator and regulator.

“There is the need for modern, multi-purpose sports infrastructure which is the physical foundation necessary for talent discovery, athlete conditioning, and hosting commercially viable competitions.

“Infrastructure is the most visible sign of commitment to a sports economy, it ranges from community playgrounds and local sports halls, to international standard stadiums.

“The challenge lies not just in policy formulation, but in the consistent and transparent implementation of these plans.

“For Anambra to fully tap into the lucrative sports economy, the convergence of political will, private investment, and professional management will be essential,” he said.

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Paul Nwosu, described the event as one of the most educating he had attended in recent history and appreciated SWAN for providing the platform for such a robust conversation.

Nwosu who is the immediate past Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, urged the government to take the issues as constructive feedback from the public while urging participants to take their health seriously by adhering to the advice of the doctor.

Chairman of SWAN in the state, Chimezie Anaso, congratulated the honorees and urged them to continue to contribute to the security and economy of the state by empowering youths through sports.

He appreciated friends and partners of SWAN including Rock Foundation Hospital, Awka, Anambra Police Command, Department of State Services, Anambra Command and Anambra Beach Soccer Association, for contributions to the success of the event.