The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter, has expressed concern over the scrapping of the Anambra Sports Development Commission and the return of sports administration to the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.
SWAN made its position known in a statement issued on Sunday in Awka.
The association was reacting to the list of commissioner nominees sent to the State House of Assembly by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for screening and confirmation.
The statement was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of SWAN in the state, Chimezie Anaso and Uche Ndeke, respectively.
The association said it had expected the commission, established in 2018, to be strengthened rather than returned to a ministry structure.
“This is unexpected because it is coming at a time when sports has grown to become a full-fledged sector and the Federal Government and most states are correspondingly operating it as an industry.
“This is why there is a National Sports Commission at the federal level and Sports Development Commissions or Sports Councils in many states; very few still administer sports through the ministry now.
“The major worry here is that sports will now be administered as a department within the ministry and this will likely constrict growth and development,” it said.
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SWAN, however, expressed confidence in Patrick Aghamba, the commissioner nominee for the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.
The association said Aghamba’s reappointment, having served as Commissioner for Youth Empowerment during Soludo’s first term, showed confidence in his capacity to manage the sector.
The body of sports journalists called on the governor to provide the political support and funding required to reposition Anambra in national sports.
“Having expressed our concerns, what is paramount is the development of sports as entertainment, profession, business and means of economic prosperity for the society, athletes, investors and households.
“What is important now is providing the right environment, building sports infrastructure, effective grassroots development programmes, school sports, high-performance centres and capacity building for coaches.
“We believe the transition will not be a difficult one because there is a sports directorate which the commissioner will inherit and build on.
“As sports writers and partners in progress, SWAN is ready as always to work with the ministry in the promotion of policies and programmes of the Soludo administration’s agenda for sports development,” it said.
(NAN)
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