The lawyer and sports development aficionado made this observation while hosting the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kwara Chapter executives in a mind meeting session
He also advocated for the need for further improvement in sports reporting in the country, saying that the media is a huge component of sports developmt in the country
Barrister Mustapha who stated this when he hosted the leadership of the Association in his residence on Friday, said that for sports to grow in the country, Nigerian sports journalists must make it a duty to promote local contents.
On the non-appearance of Nigeria at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he estimated that it cost sports industry a huge loss of billions of naira.
Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of Foresight Football Academy added, “I have respect for sports journalists because they are the image makers of the industry.
For sports to grow in Nigeria, SWAN has a pivotal role to play in society because they are the mouthpiece of the producers and consumers of the industry.”If you watch the Western world, they project the positive image of their sporting industry and it is paying off.
The developed countries project the good news of their sports industry and relegate the negative news because they are aware it will chase away sponsors. “I am urging Kwara SWAN to set a pace by promoting all sporting activities positively and I want to assure you that sponsors will be attracted to the Association”.
Barrister Mustapha is currently undertaken the regressing of the Kwara State Stadium main bowl for which the state’s darling club, Kwara United, has had to shift its home matches to Akure.Speaking on the re-grassing of Stadium, he said, “I believe this is one of the ways I can give back to the State.
He noted that the football enthusiast has succeeded in taking a sizable number of youths and engaging them via his academy.He said, “Kwara SWAN is happy to identify with you because you have done tremendously well in the football circle.
