NOA will partner SWAN to develop sports — Isa-Onilu

The Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu has promised that the federal government would partner with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in exploiting the sports sector to the benefit of the country.

The DG stated this weekend when the state leadership of SWAN visited him in Ilọrin.

According to him, the agency is working closely with the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, to change the country’s sporting culture to enhance the Nigerian brand and make sports a big business.

The DG further disclosed that his organisation is working towards two big projects which will impact the sports business in Nigeria and West Africa.

“Sports is one of the low hanging fruits and seven items NOA intends to exploit in charting a new national value charter for the country. It is the easiest institution to create to help achieve this.

“The good thing is that we are working with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who equally shares our vision and some very key stakeholders in the sports and information industry towards this.

“A situation where Nigerians are fans of clubs in the English Premiership to the detriment of our local clubs is not the best for Nigeria”, the former journalist stated.

In his response, Kwara State SWAN chairman, Mallam Ismail Ayodeji promised support of the association to ensure the DG succeeds in the project.