By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 1, 2023

Unveiling of Wall of Fame of Sports Diplomacy today at the Institute of International Affairs was quite a huge one. Legendary Sports men and women were celebrated today by members of Diplomatic Corp and senior citizens in the country and beyond.  

This is a challenge to many of us in the sporting press industry.  Chief Segun Odegbami has Invited personalities across the globe to celebrate his contemporaries. I hope you all are aware that we had sports Journalists at that time selling them to the world and writing about them, I am sure none of our veterans were remembered or recognised for the remarkable contributions. Don't you think it's high time we begin to celebrate ourselves rather than fighting, criticising, defaming ourselves and writing nonsense about our professional body on social media?  

The more we continue to relegate this professional body, SWAN, the more we in the profession continue to lose our credibility, relevance and respect.  You can't destroy your house and at the same time live in it. We have our veterans who had practiced for over 30 years and above, don't you think they are worth  celebrating,  remember, one day, you and I will also become senior citizens, so who will celebrate you?, 

 I think the time has come we begin to celebrate one another.  Let's begin to appreciate our own, until then, people, I mean the world will begin to value us and take us very seriously. Odegbami ensures his contemporaries get all the necessary attention from state governments and federal government.

  “When are we going to start advocating for ourselves?”.. food for thought.

 HRH Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos Erelu Abiola Fernandez, who's also a god mother spoke brilliantly about these sports personalities and the significant roles they had played in integrating nations at the United Nations Assembly via the power of sports, Air Peace Chairman Barr chief Allen Onyema sponsored the project and trust me it was a great one.

As the diplomatic community will continue to remember this day as a dignified one for sports Diplomacy and sports community, future generations will also remember these legends for the remarkable impacts they made in their life time. 

From the diplomatic angle and also as a member of association of diplomatic protocol professionals, these are what enhance greater bilateral trade and foreign relations and foreign policy amongst countries who have a common interest in the diplomatic community.

 I will keep it low at this juncture for now. The next phase of our professional body lies in our hands if we do it well, we will enjoy the sweet benevolence.... if we also do otherwise, the consequences are also there....

Source By TUTU ODUNNI, Chairman

Posted September 1, 2023

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