SWAN’S journey so far BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

It is no news that Elder  Uwem Ekoh has emerged the State chapter Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for a second term.

Since the election took place at Uyo Township Stadium on 4th November 2013, Elder Uwem Ekoh who won the election has been described as the luckiest chairman in the State history of SWAN.  Ekoh has received congratulatory messages from groups, individuals as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Akwa Ibom State Council which is the mother of SWAN.

Elder Uwem Ekoh while addressing the members on the election grounds had thanked God for his benevolence and love upon his life and expressed gratitude to SWAN members for the support given him in the last three years to pilot the affairs of the body. Ekoh went further to commend the National Vice President, Zone F, Mr. Justice Udousoro for his support throughout his administration.

Despite the celebration with Elder Uwem Ekoh for his success in the election, his achievements in the last three years are what many people wanted to hear.

Elder Uwem Ekoh while narrating his success story to the members, said “during my administration in the past three years, there has been what the people called lively SWAN in the State; full of activities and programmes with the revival of a yearly SWAN media, regular meetings, seminars to update the knowledge of members, monthly jogging exercise for members and the general public, introduction of mobile financial awards for the best sports writer of the Mobile Athletic Championship, courtesy of Mr. Paul Bassey, effective participation in SWAN National engagements such as Full Council Meetings, National Election amongst others”.

Since Uwem Ekoh emerged SWAN chairman for his first term on May, 2010; he has been able to organize three successful editions of SWAN games as well as A-day seminar/workshop for the members. His administration has enjoyed a robust and enterprising era that saw many sports journalists, presenters and commentators indicating interest to belong to the body.

Part of the administration’s innovation was the re-introduction of the monthly jogging exercise for all journalists in the State which enjoyed a large turnout.
With these achievements, I describe the administration of Elder Uwem Ekoh in the last three years as the most successful and the members are proud to identify with it. SWAN in Akwa Ibom State, with the return of Uwem Ekoh, will be an outstanding administration full of activities and programmes that will be people-oriented in the next three years.

Asides this success story, the administration of Uwem Ekoh also suffered serious financial challenges including the lack of adequate funding of SWAN games which affected the smooth running of the games; lack of office accommodation for the performance of secretarial duties, regular meetings and other activities/programmes of the body. It is my believe that as the Elder Uwem Ekoh led Exco continues to pilot the affairs of body, Akwa Ibom will witness a better and more effective SWAN where the welfare of members will be given prompt attention.