May 24, (THEWILL) – The founder of SamKs Athletics Club, Dr Kola Oredipe, has solicited the support of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) as he seeks the south-south zonal position on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria
Oredipe made the appeal on Saturday, during a World Press briefing at the Media Centre of the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Kola, in a remark, explained that the reason for the briefing was to inform SWAN officially that he would be running for the position of the South-South zonal Rep on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
Oredipe, who is also the Vice Chairman of Bayelsa State Athletics Association, runs a sole Athletics Academy, which holds quarterly Secondary Schools Athletics Meets in Yenagoa with a donation of various sporting equipment and kits to young athletes in Bayelsa State.
The Director General of the Bayelsa State Government on New Media, emphasised that SWAN is his primary constituency, hence the need to seek the Association’s support in propagating his antecedents and gospel across the country and beyond.
“First of all, I started my journalism career in Lagos about two months before I left for Portharcourt where I became head of news at Treasure FM, and I was an active sports reporter in Port Harcourt at that time, where I navigated and built friendships.
“And I think this journey I’m embarking upon, I need the support of SWAN as colleagues.
“I’m contesting for the South-South Zonal Representative position in the AFN to contribute my experience to the growth of athletics in the region. I’m coming into the AFN board with innovation, inclusiveness, and grassroots development plans as I believe regular competitions in the region will help discover, nurture, and grow young athletes”, Kola concluded.
In a goodwill message, the President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Comrade Benjamin Isaiah, extended the Association’s solidarity to one of its own, urging Sports journalists to seek several positions on the board of Federations.
Comrade Isaiah lauded Kola Oredipe for the bold steps to go into sports politics, stressing that it would serve as inspiration to other journalists across the nation.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
