Omidiran becomes SWAN's first National Matron
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Honorable Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has been formally invested as the first National Matron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), pledging to use her experience in sports administration and public service to support the association and the growth of sports journalism in Nigeria.
Omidiran was invested during the 2026 SWAN Triennial Delegates Congress in Kaduna, following her nomination by the association’s National Executive Committee in recognition of her contributions to sports development, public service and national integration.
Speaking on the choice of Omidiran, SWAN President, Comrade Isaiah Benjamin, said she was carefully selected because of her exceptional track record across sports administration, public service and national development.
Benjamin said Omidiran’s leadership of the FCC had been characterised by institutional reforms, transparency, stakeholder engagement and a renewed commitment to equity and fairness, qualities he said aligned with the values SWAN seeks to promote.
He also pointed to her long-standing contribution to sports, particularly women’s football and youth development. Omidiran is a former member of the Nigeria Football Federation board, has served on the FIFA Women’s Football Committee since 2006 and was proprietor of Omidiran Babes, a women’s football club established in 1997.
Benjamin said her combination of sports experience and public-sector leadership made her an appropriate choice to serve as SWAN’s inaugural National Matron, expressing confidence that her involvement would strengthen collaboration between the association and the FCC and advance their shared commitment to national unity and development.
Speaking after her investiture, Omidiran said she accepted the nomination immediately because of her long-standing relationship with sports writers and her passion for sports.
“The nomination was presented to me at the office a while ago, and I accepted immediately. I promised the president that I would be here for this investiture. That’s why we left Abuja very early in the morning to be here on time,” she said.
Omidiran said her involvement in sports spans almost three decades, tracing her relationship with sports writers to the establishment of Omidiran Babes about 29 years ago.
“My journey in sports is almost 30 years now. My love for sports writing when I formed Omidiran Babes about 29 years ago. And since then, I have been dealing with sports writers in Nigeria,” she said.
She noted that her long association with SWAN had also earned her several awards from the association at both state and national levels, including its 60th anniversary award received a few months ago.
“I have many awards from the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, both at the state level and at the national level. A few months ago, I got the 60th anniversary award from SWAN,” she said.
The FCC chairman, who has described sports as a powerful instrument for economic growth, youth empowerment and national unity, pledged that her role as SWAN Matron would be active rather than ceremonial. She had earlier assured the association that the FCC would support its programmes and initiatives.
“I will serve the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria to the best of my capability, and I will do everything within my capacity to support the association and contribute to the growth and development of sports journalism in Nigeria,” she said.
Her appointment comes as SWAN seeks to strengthen its institutional partnerships and reposition sports journalism as a critical component of sports development, youth empowerment and national integration.
Omidiran’s recent advocacy for grassroots sports development, particularly women’s football and youth talent identification, has further reinforced her connection with the objectives of the association.
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