The city of the Warlords, Ibadan will next week play host to prominent sports administrators in the country as the Oyo State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) will hold its fourth annual Ramadan Lecture in the state capital.
The dignitaries will converge at the capital of the Pacesetter State to do an exposition on the impacts of fasting on human health with a particular focus on its effect on athletes’ performance.
The sports administrators expected to grace the occasion include the National President of the Nigeria Referees Association; Tade Azeez, who will be the Chairman of the occasion while the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports; Asiwaju Seun Fakorede will be the Special Guest of Honour.
Other dignitaries expected at the event are the President Nigeria Judo Federation; Dr. Musa Oshodi, Chairman of the State Sports Council; Honourable Gbenga Adewusi alongside the General Manager of the Council, Mr. Gboyega Makinde as well as the Chairman of Shooting Stars Sports Club Honourable; Tunde Olaniyan, a former Chairman National Amateur Boxing Association; Mr. Gbenga Opaleye and Barrister Jubril Muhammed, a lawyer and confidant of Super Eagles’ all time top scorer Rashidi Yekini, a multilingual and widely traveled Keep Fit expert Ambassador Romoke Ayinde, a sports enthusiasts who is a former Chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government; Honourable Akeem Ige and the President Ibadan Social Group; Tokunbo James.
The event will also attract the cream of journalism professionals including the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists; Comrade Ademola Babalola, the Chairman of SWAN in the State Mr. Niyi Alebiosu, the Editor of Nigerian Tribune; Debo Abdulai, the publisher of the popular Parrot Xtra Magazine; Mr. Yinka Agboola as well as Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan; a veteran journalist and media aide to former Governor Lam Adesina, among others.
The Guest Lecturer at the Oyo SWAN Ramadan Lecture titled “The Dos and Don’ts of Fasting Athletes” is a retired insurance broker now a cleric, Imam Mudasir Bada of the elitist Oluyole Muslim Community in Ibadan.
Speaking on the forthcoming Lecture, the Chairman of its Planning Committee, Abass Ishola said the event is aimed at educating athletes and other members of the public on the health benefits and implications of fasting, as well as giving tips on how to manage its implications.
“There is a lot of myths and beliefs about fasting, concerning its effects on athletes’ performance. We want to use this platform to set the record straight and reveal the correct information about fasting as it affects athletes”, Abass stated.
The Lecture, scheduled to hold on the 19th of April 2022 at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku Ibadan, will also feature the presentations of cash prizes to champions of the football and table tennis competitions held during Oyo SWAN Week held in December 2021.
