SWAN President to Grace Bayelsa at 30 Anniversary Celebration, Igali Confirms
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Benjamin Isaiah, has been confirmed among dignitaries expected to grace the activities marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State.
The confirmation was made on Friday by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Daniel Igali, as the state intensifies preparations for the anniversary celebration.
Igali said, “the presence of the SWAN President would add further significance to the celebration and strengthen the cordial relationship between the Bayelsa State Government, through the Ministry of Sports Development, and sports journalists in the state.”
According to him, “sports journalists have continued to play an important role in promoting sporting activities and achievements in Bayelsa, making their partnership with the government an important component of the state’s sports development plans.”
The Commissioner noted that the administration of Governor Douye Diri had demonstrated considerable ambition in the development of sports infrastructure and human capacity, stressing that the state would continue to require the support and collaboration of SWAN to achieve its objectives.
Igali said, “the partnership would become even more important as Bayelsa prepares to host the 2028 National Sports Festival, with major sporting facilities currently under construction and rehabilitation across the state.”
He stated that “preparations for the National Sports Festival had already commenced, adding that the state was positioning itself to deliver facilities and programmes capable of supporting athletes and other participants when Bayelsa hosts the national sporting event in 2028.”
As part of the Bayelsa@30 celebration, Igali also confirmed a series of sporting activities scheduled to take place at the Samson Siasia Stadium on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The programme will commence at 2:00 p.m. with an Ogele Procession from Government House to the Samson Siasia Stadium, where sports legends, young athletes and other participants will take part in a lap around the pitch.
The procession will feature a symbolic torch handover ceremony, bringing together sports personalities from different generations to celebrate Bayelsa’s sporting journey over the past three decades.
This will be followed by a novelty football match between the team of Executive and Political Appointees and their counterparts from the Judiciary and Legislature, providing another major attraction for spectators.
The grand finale of the sporting activities will be a wrestling competition between Bayelsa and Delta State, urging members of the public to come out in large numbers and join government officials, athletes, sports legends and other stakeholders in celebrating Bayelsa’s 30 years of existence.
