Ogun SWAN Honours Africa Para-table tennis Champion ,Seven Others

Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN) in Ogun State has honoured the reigning Africa para-table tennis champion, Ishau Babatunde Ogunkunle, former Sports Commissioner, Bukola Olopade and other six distinguished personalities for their various contributions to the development of sports in the country.

They were honoured on Christmas Eve(Thursday) at a well attended colourful Gala/Award nite climaxing the weeklong activities of the 2020  week of the association held at Continental Suite, Ibara in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Edu-Biznews recalled that the physically challenged Ogun State born Ishau as unseeded player at the 2019 Africa Para-table tennis championship in Alexandria, Egypt stunned the home boy and the world  11th ranked player and the tournament's number one, Mohammed Sameh Eid by three sets to two, to clinch the coveted trouphy for Nigeria.

Ishau who was honoured with the "Promising Athlete Award", expressed appreciation for the recognition and promised to win more laurels for Ogun State and Nigeria.  

Caption:Veteran Oluwusi being presented with the award by SWAN life patron, Engr. Adebowale

Caption :Ogun SWAN Chairman, Hakeem Akintunde presenting award to life patron , Engr.Adebowale. 

The award ceremony also saw veteran sports writer and former Chairman of the state chapter of SWAN, Deacon Kunle Oluwusi being honoured with a "Role Model In Sports Journalism Award", former Sports Commissioner, Olopade (Trailblazer Award), ex-Olympiad and former long jumper, Dr.Yussuf Alli(Sports Icon Award), seasoned sports administrator and Prince Tunji Onatolu (Sports Administrator Per Excellence Award) .

Other awardees included former Eagles captain and midfield maestro, Late Mudashiru Lawal (MON, OON) who was given a Posthumous Soccer Icon Award and Alhaji Monsuru Kehinde Raji whose immeasurable contributions to development of the football was recognized with the  "Grassroots Football Development Award" 

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria's Construction firm, First August Limited,Engr. Mutiu Adebowale was appreciated with the "Sports Philanthropy Award" for his unlimited financial support to SWAN in Ogun State as a life patron of the association .

Dignitaries at the event included the State Sports Commissioner, Dr.Oluwadare Kehinde, General Manager of Gateway FC of Abeokuta, Mr. Soleye, top officials of the State Sports Council, leadership of the State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State SWAN Chairman, Niyi Alebiosu among others.

Former State Chairman of SWAN, Deacon Kunle Oluwusi lauded the Hakeem Akintunde led executives along with the secretary, Michael- Azeez Ogunsiji for sustaining and improving on the tradition of SWAN forum and other activities of the association in the state.