By Usman Walin Gungura
Sports has been described as the best tool that can be used to make Nigeria better, hence sports writers have been tasked to do all within their powers to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development by positively educating the masses.
A United Kingdom-based renowned philanthropist, Mr. Moses Ted Andishu, gave the charge, at the weekend when he was decorated as a National Patron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), in Kaduna.
“As journalists, use your noble profession to educate the public on the importance of sports, especially with the challenges we’re facing in Nigeria today.
“When I was growing up in Nigeria, we didn’t know, Muslim, Christian, or ethnic differences. Today, there are the several factors that are trying to divide us.
“And I believe that you have got massive tools as sports writers, you know, everybody loves sports.
“So use this tool to make our country better and I know that you always need resources and support to the best of my ability,” he admonished during the occasion.
Moses Andishu emphasised that in sports, all are united, only focusing on the teams or athletes they are supporting.
“You know, sports has no religion, it has no race, it has no language. Let me say our players, we’ve got players in Germany, they don’t speak German. We have two teams, they’ve got black players and white players.
“You support your team, I support my team, you’re not supporting black or white players, you just support your team.
“So sports is so uniting that we don’t explore sports in the best way, as much as we should,” he stressed.
He thanked SWAN for finding him worthy to be one of its national patrons, assuring that he would contribute his quota in making the association greater.
“I’m very honoured that you found me worthy of this very prestigious honour as a patron. As a person, I find my purpose in life is to serve and be there for others in any way that can come.
“Life is not just about acquiring knowledge, or skills, or networking, if you will. It’s about disseminating.
“So I find that very fulfilling and I’m very satisfied when I share my resources, with corporate members or individuals. I go home and sleep well,” he said.
According to him, sports is a big thing for him, although based in the UK, he is still involved in grassroots sports there and in Nigeria.
“Even in the UK, I’ve very, very involved myself in grassroots sports. I’m a patron to WSports, which is a feeder team for clubs.
“So coming here and recognized in my hometown. I will do more, give some support to the association. I will not bring the association’s name to disrepute,” he assured.
He however, tasked SWAN to always guide him on what to do, since he is now part of the association. “Guide me, I do not work alone. If there are certain areas that you think I’ve erred, there are a few of you that I know that can say, ‘you do it this way, that might be the right way. And I always give my honest opinion and advice, whether it’s taken or not, you know, I am always a phone call and email away,” he said.
He added: “Every issue that I have, I can deal with, to the best of my ability. As I said, that is my life. My life is of service. I love sports.”
In his remarks at the ceremony, SWAN President, Isaiah Kemje Benjamin who led some national and states executives in decorating Mr. Moses Andishu as national patron, said that the investiture ought to have been done since October last year during the association’s 60th anniversary celebration in Abuja.
He informed the new patron that membership of the association goes beyond Nigeria, across the diaspora.
“And we are also a member affiliate to what we refer to as the AIPS, which is the International Sports Press Association, with its headquarters in Switzerland,” he said.
Some of the national officers who accompanied the SWAN President on the investiture were the Secretary General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, Ex-Officio North West, Idris Malikawa, Special Adviser Media to the President, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, Special Adviser Logistics Joshua Friday, Kaduna State Chairman, Shehu Abdullahi, as well as others.
The Man Moses Ted Andishu
Exuding with track record of philanthropy and vast knowledge in sports and other economic spheres, Moses Ted Andishu is a Patron of Conglomerate of Sports establishments, serving as feeders to football clubs in England.
Born in Kaduna where he had his early education, Moses is the founder and Chairman of the board, Moses Andishu Foundation.
He annually sponsors YSFON U-17 Boys Football Championship in North West, Nigeria as well as bankrolls Inter-Secondary Schools Rugby Championship.
He is a prominent recipient of the black entrepreneur and extraordinaire categories at the BE Mogul awards, which recognises success among black business owners.
Years back, Moses Andishu set up his company, Tedmoses, based in the United Kingdom. He is also the Managing Director Freivan Support Services UK.
