Alhaja Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, has been formally installed as the first Matron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
Omidiran takes up new SWAN role
The investiture was held in Kaduna during SWAN’s 2026 National Triennial Delegates Congress. At the event, the association’s leadership presented a long-term development plan built around professional standards, digital transformation and improved welfare for members.
Congress focuses on SWAN’s future
SWAN National President Isaiah K. Benjamin received delegates representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, describing the congress as an important forum for reinforcing the association’s governance structures.
Benjamin said the triennial meeting was not merely a mandatory gathering. In his view, it offered SWAN the chance to review its history, assess its current position and establish a clear, forward-looking direction for the coming years.
He said the next phase of sports journalism in Nigeria should be founded on:
- Accurate, evidence-based reporting;
- Greater use of technology;
- Ongoing professional development; and
- Better working environments for journalists.
Benjamin also appealed to governments, businesses and sports federations to regard SWAN as more than a media organisation, urging them to recognise the association as a strategic contributor to the development of sport.
He encouraged members to pursue cooperation instead of division, saying their lasting assessment would depend not on the offices they held, but on the institutions they improved and the legacy they created.
New matron promises support for sports journalism
After accepting the appointment, Omidiran promised to provide practical institutional backing to SWAN. She pointed to a relationship of almost three decades with Nigeria’s sports media, beginning with her establishment of the women’s football club Omidiran Babes.
Omidiran said she had accepted the nomination without hesitation and would serve the association to the fullest extent of her ability. She pledged to do everything within her power to support SWAN and help advance sports journalism in Nigeria.
