By Raphael Okhiria
National Leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has named the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the Distinguished Governor of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria.
The award will be formally presented to the governor on Friday, October 31, during SWAN’s 60th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary.
Edo State Chairman of SWAN, Comrade Kehinde Osagiede, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin when he led members of his executive on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua.
Osagiede said the visit was aimed at officially introducing the Edo SWAN Executive, which assumed office about a year ago to the commissioner and to strengthen collaboration between the association and the state government.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo was carefully selected for this honour because of his remarkable contributions to sports development in Nigeria within his first year in office.
“We also came to congratulate you, Mr. Commissioner, on your well-deserved appointment, and to inform you, as the spokesperson of the state government, about the forthcoming award to the governor,” he said
He further assured that the Edo SWAN chapter would continue to collaborate with the state government to promote sports development across the state.
In his response, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, thanked SWAN for the recognition accorded Governor Okpebholo and for its support towards sports promotion in Edo State.
Afegbua, who disclosed that the governor was currently on official duty in Ekiti State, promised to brief him about the honour.
He urged sports journalists in the state to give balanced and positive coverage to the activities of Bendel Insurance Football Club, Edo Queens, and other sporting programmes initiated by the state government.
“The Edo State Government will continue to partner with SWAN to advance sports development in the state,” the commissioner assured.