Lagos SWAN promises rewarding seminar

Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Lagos State chapter (SWAN), Niyi Oyeleke has declared that the association’s planned league seminar on the Nigeria Football League will be a rewarding exercise.

Speaking at a media parley heralding the seminar scheduled to hold at the new SWAN Secretariat on July 29, Oyeleke said the one-day seminar is expected to X-ray the workability of the Nigeria football league with the aim of exhuming its hidden potentials and rekindle public enthusiasm in the domestic league.

He noted that notable club administrators have been contacted to deliver papers at the occasion with a view to creating awareness on various business and marketing communications windows available to stakeholders, corporate organisations to invest in the league.

“I can assure you all that at the end of the day, participants will be more enlightened on various strategies for improving on the management and finances of their clubs, to make them more stable and economically productive.

"All these are captured in the theme of the seminar which is 'Actualising the Potentials of the Nigeria League," the Lagos SWAN boss declared.

Chairman of the organising committee of the event, Emma Jemegah, disclosed that communications giant, Globacom has doled out N1.5m to support the event.

Jemegah disclosed that more support is being expected from other organisations like Zenith Bank Plc and Union Bank Plc, which he said have indicated their interest in the event which enjoys the blessing of both the Nigeria Football Association, NFA and the Nigeria Football League, NFL respectively.

Meanwhile, the official marketer of NFL, Shehu Dikko has indicated his readiness to fully participate in the seminar.

Dikko who is currently busy with the arrangements of the TINAPA show featuring some clubs from the English Premiership, said despite his busy schedule, he would attend the event and would confirm his paper days ahead of the event.

Dikko is billed to speak on "The Business, Investment, Commercial and Marketing Potentials of the Nigerian League" after which his presentation would be analysed by president of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF), Harrison Jalla.

Other dignitaries expected at the event include, the Executive Governor of Lagos State , Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), as special guest of honour, 1st Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Football League (NFL), Alhaji Gusau, veteran sports administrator, Group Captain John Obakpolor (Rtd), who is to chair the occasion.

Other notable speakers are Chief Adeboye Onigbinde, who is to deliver a paper on Strategies for Effective Club Management, Financing and Merchandising in the Nigerian League.