By AMINA SAMUEL, KADUNA
The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, have Tasked Nigeria to invest more in sport in view of it’s uniting factor as well as huge economic potentials. Says Nigeria has all it takes to top sports worldwide.
Northern CAN Chairman stated this in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN @60 Church Service held at the the Supernatural Dominion Bible Ministry International, Gonin Gora Kaduna on Sunday October 26, 2025.
Hayab said that with greater investments in sports, the current insecurity bedeviling the country could be a thing of the past.
“If you see the enthusiasm, the commitment youth put into sports,
then there’s nothing wrong to use sports to catch them. I have seen inter-church competitions. I’ve seen inter-faith competitions. I’ve seen inter-community competitions.
“Because what this country needs today is unity. If sports can give us unity, let’s hold it. nations of the world are investing millions and trillions of dollars into sports.
“For people who probably don’t know what sports is all about, we watch sports on TV and think that’s all when you march into stadia that we are watching on TV and see the kind of investment associated
with it, you will know that sports does not only bring unity, sports also its an economic booster for nations. It creates jobs for them. If we enhance sports, it will be far more than what we are thinking so I salute sports writers at 60,,” he said.
He therefore, charged Nigerians to continue investing in sports.
“Because in this country, we must invest in the talents of our children, we must invest in the talent of our future generation. Great nations of the world apart from technology, one other thing that makes them famous is sports.
“Jamaica today, is celebrated because of sports. Even Kenya, Ethiopia in Africa, are celebrated in the world today because of sports. Nigeria has all it takes to be the best sporting nation or community in the world.
“What we need is to encourage our people and to speak to those who are directly in charge of sports activities in Nigeria to understand that sports is not sentiment,” he said.
Speaking further, he said, “there are more things they can use sports for and the money they are using to fight banditry, will be a thing of the past.
He prayed that sports writers will use their writings through sports in promoting unity.
“All this is to further bring people together. So if sport writers are celebrating 60, please, we want to use this occasion to encourage you to write more positive stories about sports, how sports can unite people, of different faith,
how sports can unite people of different tribes, how sports can unite people of different denominations, how sports can unite people of different communities,” Reverend Hayab, who is also the Country Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), stressed.
“For all of us, despite that we practice faith, sports is part of our lives. We grew up doing sport in schools. We grew up doing sports in different areas. And even in church. Most of us in church today, have introduced sports into our activities because for our youth, one thing we can catch them is to use sports,” he declared.
Also speaking, SWAN President, Isaiah Kemje Benjamin informed that the church service is part of activities lined up to celebrate SWAN @60.
Represented by his SA Media, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, he explained that on Friday all over Nigeria, Juma’at Mosque prayers were held, with the Christians doing same simultaneously across the 36 states and the FCT on Sunday
He informed that the SWAN @60 activities would gather steam on October 29 in Abuja with the arrival of its full council members from all over the country.
“On 30th we will have lectures with several distinguished personalities, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu presenting papers.
“On 31st we would hold the SWAN @60 Awards, launching of compendium and fundraising for SWAN House in Abuja,” the President said
Earlier in his sermon, Brother Philip Adejumo of the Supernatural Dominion Bible Ministry International, underscored the importance of faith in the lives of humans.
He said with faith, nothing is impossible, while charging faithful to always exhibit the virtues of Jesus Christ.
The service was organized by Kaduna SWAN Vice Chairman, Okpani Mike Odeh James, who led members in delivering a vote of thanks at the event.
