By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The zonal Vice President, Badminton Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Nma Kolo has encouraged members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Niger state chapter to come up with ideas that will help in changing the dwindling of fortune sports for the better.
He also expressed worry that in recent years, the performances of Niger state contingent to sports festivals have not been encouraging largely due to poor preparations or no preparations at all and therefore call on the SWAN to come up with ideas that will change the situation for the better.
Nma Kolo who made the suggestion when he granted audience to the state SWAN leadership paid him courtesy call said he us ready to support the association if it will be willing to evolve wholistic approach to bring about genuine and speedy transformation in the state's sports sector.
The former Special Adviser (political) to Governor Umar Bago also hinted of his preparedness to collaborate with the SWAN to not only increase media coverage of sports, but point out issues that are causing stagnation to the sector with a view to addressing them.
Kolo who is also the Chairman Badminton Association of Nigeria, Niger state, reasoned that coverage of sports have also been on the decline and therefore encouraged SWAN to take the lead in creating awareness or platform for dialogue to restore the state's lost sports glory.
"In recent years Niger state contingent participating to national and international sporting events have been done with almost zero preparations", this trend, Nma Kolo said should not be allowed to continue.
The Badminton Association chairman who commended SWAN for the visit said called for stronger working ties with the association by arranging for more of similar meetings whereby issues relating to sports generally will be discussed.
"Let us come together, create a platform where we share ideas, talk on the way forward to check the woeful outings", Kolo said as he expressed optimism that with such constant engagements everything about sports, including rewarding past athletes as a way of encouraging up coming ones will be resolved.
Earlier, the Niger state Chairman of SWAN, Alhassan Mohammed Kutigi had told Nma Kolo that they were in his office to congratulate him on his election as the zonal Vice President of Badminton Association of Nigeria (north-central).
Kutigi also told Nma Kolo that they were in his office to seek for areas of partnership, and commended him for promising to support SWAN in areas of training and other activities aimed at rewarding past or retired sports men and women that once made Niger state proud at different national and international sporting events. NNL.
