By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North-Central, reporting from Kaduna)
The Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hajiya Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has been decorated as the first National Matron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
Omidiran was invested during the 2026 SWAN Triennial Delegates Congress in Kaduna, tagged, "KD 2026" following her nomination by the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in recognition of her contributions to sports growth and development and in public service.
Speaking on the choice of Omidiran, the President of SWAN, Comrade Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, said she was chosen because of her exceptional track records in sports administration, public service to reflect national growth and development.
Omidiran’s leadership of the FCC, Benjamin pointed out had been characterised by institutional reforms to promote transparency, stakeholder's engagements and as well, renewed commitments to equity and fairness, part of qualities he said aligned with the values that SWAN seeks to promote in all its activities.
He also pointed out tgat Omidiran had long standing contributions to sports development, particularly women’s football and youths development haven served as a former member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, FIFA Women’s Football Committee since 2006 and was also the proprietor of Omidiran Babes, a women’s football club established in 1997.
Her combinations of sports experience and public-sector leadership, Benjamin said made her most appropriate choice to serve as SWAN’s inaugural National Matron, expressing confidence that her involvement would strengthen collaborations between SWAN and the FCC in advancing their shared commitments to national unity and development.
In her acceptance speech after the investiture, Omidiran said she accepted the nomination immediately because of her long-standing relationships with sports writers and her passion for sports generally.
The FCC Executive Chairperson said, “The nomination was presented to me at the office a while ago, and I accepted immediately. I promised your president that I would be here for this investiture. That’s why we left Abuja very early in the morning to be here on time”.
Omidiran recalled her years of involvement in sports spanning almost three decades, tracing her relationship with Sports Writers to the establishment of her football club, Omidiran Babes about 29 years ago.
“My journey in sports is almost 30 years now. My love for sports writings when I formed Omidiran Babes about 29 years ago. And since then, I have been dealing with sports writers in Nigeria”.
She noted that her long association with SWAN members had also earned her several awards from the association at both state and national levels, including during SWAN’s 60th anniversary award she received few months ago.
“I have many awards from the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, both at the state level and at the national level. A few months ago, I got the 60th anniversary award from SWAN,” she said, describing sports as a powerful instrument for economic growth, youths empowerment and national unity.
Pledging that her role as SWAN Matron would be active rather than mere ceremonial, the FCC Chairperson assured the SWAN family that the FCC would do its best to support programmes and initiatives of Sports Writers.
Omidiran who had for years championed grassroots sports development said, “I will serve the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria to the best of my capability, and I will do everything within my capacity to support the association and contribute to the growth and development of sports journalism in Nigeria”. NNL.
