The Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) has reabsorbed and reintegrated , the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) as an affiliate of the body after eight years.
It would be recalled that the NUJ-SWAN disintegration started in 2016 and escalated between 2018-2019.
This was when Comrade Honour Sirawoo was elected SWAN National President in Ilorin , Kwara State, where crisis brewed during his tenure in an alleged attempts to review SWAN statutes .
Between 2018-2019, NUJ stepped in directly, suspending SWAN National Elections indefinitely and put Port Harcourt and Abuja congresses on hold.
It further directed South West Chapters of the NUJ to stay away from SWAN elections.
In 2019, concern SWAN members wrote NUJ , stating that the failure to follow NUJ’s constitution in SWAN election guidelines could lead to gradual disintegration of SWAN ,but the latter argued that it was a registered entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),also, alleging that it had already withdrawn from NUJ ,of which position was purportedly used to reject NUJ’s supervision of the Lagos SWAN election in 2022 .
The Union in its communique issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Duste , Jigawa State , on August 11, 2026, chaired by the National President of the Union, Comrade Alhassan Abdullahi, said the reabsorption followed extensive deliberations on the position SWAN .
The Communique signed by the assistant national secretary of the NUJ , Comrade Akorede Opeyemi stated that the decision was reached after due consideration of a letter earlier submitted to the Union by the National Chairman of SWAN, Comrade Isaiah Benjamin ,who was hitherto invited to address members of the National Executive Council.
The Union noted that the decision was taken in the spirit of unity, professional solidarity, inclusiveness and the continued development of journalism and sports journalism in Nigeria.
Accordingly,” the current leadership of SWAN under Comrade Isaiah Benjamin is recognised and reintegrated into the NUJ structure in accordance with the relevant provisions and procedures of the Union.”
“ NEC resolved to formally reabsorb and reintegrate SWAN into the NUJ family,” the statement added.
The meeting, with the national officers of the Union as well as chairmen and secretaries of state councils in attendance deliberated extensively on critical issues affecting the journalism profession, the safety and welfare of journalists, national security, professional development, institutional strengthening, agriculture, strategic partnerships, and the unity and growth of the Union.