The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Cross River State Chapter, has commended the Cross River State Government under the leadership of Senator Prince Bassey Otu for the remarkable transformation witnessed in the state’s sports sector in recent times.
In a statement signed by the Chapter Chairman Michael Akpang, SWAN notes that the renewed focus on sports development by the state government is already yielding visible results across infrastructure, athlete performance, and grassroots engagement.
_“As watch dogs in the sports sector, we have observed deliberate efforts by the current administration to reposition sports as a veritable tool for youth empowerment, talent discovery, and state branding,”_ the statement reads.
*SWAN highlights the following key achievements in the sports sector under the current administration:*
1. *Infrastructure Upgrade*: The comprehensive upgrade of the State VIP Box at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, which has restored dignity to the facility and improved the experience for officials, dignitaries, and stakeholders during sporting events, is laudable.
2. *Team Success*: The recent qualification of the Cross River State Female Football Team, Pelican Stars for the Nigeria Women Premier League, NWPL, is a testament to the government’s investments in women’s football and grassroots sports development in the state.
3. *Improved Athlete Performance*: There are notable improvements in the performance of the state’s athletes at national and regional competitions, including the last edition of the Niger Delta Games in Benin City, where Cross River State made a strong showing.
4. *Increased Competitions*: The successful organization and hosting of a series of competitions in the state, including the Queen’s Cup, Veterans Sports Competition, and other age-grade and grassroots tournaments, aimed at talent discovery, is an eloquent testimony to the revival of sports in the state.
5. *National Hosting Rights*: The state’s emergence as a host center for the recent Nigerian Women Football League, NWFL matches, further places Calabar on the national sports map, while also boosting the local economy.
6. *Zonal Youth Games*: The successful hosting of the 2023 South South Zonal Elimination Series for the National Youth Games, which provided a platform for young talents to emerge, was another milage in restoring the state’s image as the hub for sports in the zone.
7. *Corporate Partnerships*:
The successful hosting of the MTN Championship twice in the state underscores the growing collaboration between government and the private sector in advancing sports development in the state.
8. *Policy and Governance Milestone*: The first-ever hosting of the National Council on Sports by Cross River State in 2025, has firmly established the state as a leading voice in national sports policy development and implementation.
9. *Tourism-Sports Integration*: Cross River State has secured the International Golfers Cup Tournament as part of the yearly Carnival Calabar calendar, merging sports with tourism and culture.
10. *Marathon and Road Races*: The Ongoing preparations for the International Agbokim Falls Green Marathon and Calabar Marathon is to project the city’s serenity and the state’s natural endowments to the world.
11. *National Sports Policy Domestication*: The ongoing process for the domestication of the National Sports Policy in the state, to provide a legal and strategic framework for sports development is most commendable.
The Cross River State Chapter of SWAN describes these strides as a clear demonstration of the Prince Otu-led administration’s commitment to complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in sports development in the country.
_“While we commend these achievements, we urge the state government to sustain and improve upon this feat,”_ SWAN states. _“There is need for consistent and improved funding, better welfare for athletes and coaches, early preparation for national events, and the continued upgrade of other sporting facilities across the state.”_
The association also calls for stronger partnership among the Ministry of Sports, the state’s sports commission and media stakeholders to properly project Cross River’s sports success stories to the world.
SWAN reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting, reporting, and holding sports administrators and other stakeholders accountable to ensure sports thrives as a tool for unity, youth development, and economic empowerment in the state.
