The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation in Ebonyi State, Engr. Jude Okpor, has eulogized members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ebonyi State chapter, for their enhanced reportage of sporting activities across the state.
Okpor gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by SWAN officials, led by its chairman, Comrade Ndubuisi Nwogha, at the Cabinet Office, Old Government House, Abakaliki.
He noted that the continuous coverage and analysis of various sports, particularly the efforts of Abakaliki FC in the Nigeria National League (NNL), have boosted the popularity of the club and significantly elevated the state’s image both nationally and internationally.
Highlighting Abakaliki FC’s historic qualification for the final of the President Federation Cup—the first since Ebonyi’s creation in 1996, the commissioner said the achievement not only put the team on the global football map but also strengthened the case for increased investment in the sports sector.
He urged the players to strive for victory against Kwara United in the final slated for June 28 in Lagos, in honor of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s commitment to reviving professional football in the state.
A win, he added, would give the team an opportunity to represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Okpor called on SWAN members to adopt professional standards in their reporting by engaging in research and analytical interpretation of athletes’ performances to guide policy decisions in sports development.
Earlier, SWAN Chairman Comrade Ndubuisi Nwogha said the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration with the ministry and enhance the working environment for sports journalists in the state.
He appealed for official recognition of SWAN as the representative sports media body in Ebonyi and promised that the association would continue to promote the state’s image through professional sports coverage.
Also speaking, Comrade Israel Mbam, Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee of the 2025 SWAN Week, appreciated the commissioner’s reception of the delegation.
He, however, highlighted key challenges faced by the association, including lack of mobility, office accommodation, and modern facilities, and appealed for urgent government intervention.
