By Yusuf Bukar Biriri, Damaturu.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has
recognized Governor Mai Mala Buni as one of the most sports-
loving governors in the Northeast region.
In a statement jointly signed by the National President and
Secretary-General of the Association, Isaiah Benjamin and
Ambassador Ikenan Okonkwo, the SWAN described Governor
Buni as a champion of sports development in the region.
The nomination letter for the merit award as the best
governor in sports development cited the governor’s remarkable
strides in grassroots and elite sports development in Yobe State,
which include remodeling of the August 27 Stadium in
Damaturu, proposing the upgrading of four stadiums in
Potiskum, Gashua, Geidam and Nguru, as well as construction
of new ones in Buni Yadi and Machina,
According to the statement the governor was also
recognized as a governor who led the state to participate in
several national and international sports festivals.
The association
also recognized the outstanding
contributions of Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan to sports
development and was nominated for the SWAN Service Award.
The Yobe State Commissioner of Sports, Youth and Social
Development, Alhaji Barma Shettima and the Commissioner of
Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Mohammed Garba
Gagiyo, described the nominations as timely and well-deserved,
noting that they would forward the nomination letters to the
governor and the senator for their consent to attend the award
ceremony.
The awardees will be honoured at the sixtieth anniversary
of SWAN in Abuja on the thirtieth of this month the statement added.
