SWAN Mourns Deji Tinubu

The president of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Honour Sirawoo has described the death of Deji Tinubu, late Special Adviser to Governor Akinwumi Ambode on Commerce and Industry, as shocking and devastating. Tinubu, who passed away last Thursday after slumping during a football novelty match in Epe, Lagos state was, until his appointment as SA Commerce and Industry a few days ago, the Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Sports and chairman Lagos State Sports Commission.

He was a former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Lagos FA Chairman. A visibly shaken Sirawoo, in a statement signed by his SA on Media, Olalekan Ige, recalled how only recently, the deceased and himself spoke on how to reposition sports in Nigeria and the importance of sportswriters to the promotion of the industry. According to him, “Both of us sat together in Accra during the CAF/Aiteo African Footballer of the Year Award and we spoke at length on a wide range of issues in the sports sector. He spoke passionately as a good administrator and was emphatic that sportswriters have a huge role to play if Nigeria is to do well in sports.

“The news of his demise hit me like a blow. Nigeria has indeed lost a passionate lover of sports. SWAN has lost an ambassador, a confidant and also mentor to people. You may disagree with him but he speaks with conviction and determination. “My sympathy goes to his family, the Lagos State chapter of SWAN, the government and people of Lagos State, Lagos State Football Association and lovers of sports who came across him. He made an indelible mark as the chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission and contributions to the overall development of sports in Nigeria.”