As preparations for the maiden Oyo SWAN Sports Summit gather momentum, a United Kingdom-based firm, New Africa Soccer, has thrown its weight behind the project, describing it as a right move at the right time.
A letter of endorsement sent to the association and signed by the founder/Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Tunde Adelakun on Wednesday, having commended the executive members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State chapter and its members for the initiatives, said the summit would go a long way in re-branding the face of sports in the state and the country at large.
The summit which will dwell on the state of sports in the state and marketing/sponsorship values strategies, will have Gboyega Makinde, the Acting General Manager, Oyo State Sports Council and Mr Steve Akadiri, an insurance guru as speakers, while notable sports personnel in the country will act as panelists.
Adelakun, who also doubles as an aide to the Super Eagles technical director Gernort Rohr said, “inasmuch as I want to commend the initiatives of the Oyo SWAN leadership on this project, I believe it will be a step to greatness and fulfillment of the sporting potential that the state possesses.”
The chairman, Sports Committee of Oyo SWAN, Mr Samson Akindele, while responding to the statement assured Adelakun of a well organized summit, saying that it will attract many stakeholders in sports in Oyo State and its neighbouring states, adding that notable among them are Dr Steve Olarinoye, Zonal Coordinator, Ministry of Sports; the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Dewunmi Ogunsanya; former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ogun State, Mr Bukola Olapade; Mr Felix Owolabi, former Green Eagles player and Mr Sola Akinwale of Worldwide Sports, among others.
Mr Niyi Alebiosu, the Oyo SWAN chairman in his remarks thanked the founder/CEO New Africa Soccer for his endorsement of the summit and his words of encouragement.
“We are pleased with the endorsement coming from an internationally acclaimed and experienced sports personality and I want to say that we in SWAN are looking to a working relationship with the UK-based organization to better the lot of the association and sports in general,” Alebiosu said.
