By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos chapter and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will hold a symposium against the use of illicit substances, drug abuse and doping in Lagos on Wednesday September 13, 2023.
The workshop will be held in partnership with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Lagos State Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Golfview Hotel and Conference Center, in collaboration with the National Anti Doping Committee (NADC).
According to the Chairman of Lagos SWAN, Olatutu Oladunni, the symposium, which is also being organized in collaboration with the National Anti Doping Committee (NADC), will start by 9am at the Golfview Hotel and Conference Center on General Adeyinka Adebayo Road, off Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Oladunni further said the workshop is meant to orientate, guide and support stakeholders in the Nigerian sports sector on the dangers inherent in use of illicit substances, drug abuse and doping with 2024 Olympics in view, adding that various sports federations, performing athletes coaches, athletes and officials will be participating in the event.
The event has already been receiving support from Nigerian Breweries, Coca Cola, Rite Foods, CarolKings Media Nigeria Limited and others, while The Nation Newspaper, Arise TV and New Post Magazine are the official media partners for the event.
She said the time has come to change the narratives and negative signals sent to to the public which can kill sports sector and the stakeholders in it.
The chairman added that it is important we make sports sector a sellable brand that will attract investors across the globe and add outstanding productivity to the economy and tourism.
“Giving utmost priority to performing athletes and critical stakeholders in sports which includes coaches and technical team is essential at this point and we need work together as one family to achieve positive result,” she said.
