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The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Byblos Travels and Tours Nigeria Limited to provide affordable travel opportunities and logistical support to sports journalists covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on Wednesday in Abuja, is expected to significantly reduce the financial burden on sports journalists by offering discounted airfares, visa consultancy services, accommodation support and other travel-related benefits. Project reports
The agreement comes at a crucial time as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition of the tournament to be co-hosted by three countries and the largest in FIFA history, with 48 nations participating.
Under the partnership, Byblos Travels and Tours will provide special travel packages to SWAN members for a period of 120 days and facilitate their participation in World Cup-related events.
Byblos promises exclusive packages
The leader of the Byblos delegation, Abubakar Nasrudeen, said the company was pleased to partner with SWAN in a bid to make international travel easier and more convenient for Nigerian sports journalists.
According to him, the company, which specializes in ticketing, visa processing and tour packages, would offer SWAN members exclusive travel offers that are not available to the general public.
“We are ready to provide SWAN with all support in terms of airline tickets, visas and travel packages. We want members to enjoy special rates and opportunities that they cannot easily get elsewhere,” he said.
Nasrudeen added that the company will continue to explore other opportunities in the travel industry that could benefit the association’s members.
Oladimeji praises SWAN’s leadership
Former SWAN Kano State Chapter Secretary, Mr. Abdulgafar Oladimeji, who facilitated the partnership, commended the leadership of SWAN President, Comrade Isaiah Benjamin, for embracing initiatives that promote the well-being and professional growth of members.
He said one of the greatest achievements of the current SWAN leadership has been the restoration of stability and unity within the association.
“Today, SWAN is one voice. The association is stable and many people may not know that peace and stability are worth billions of naira to any organisation,” he said.
Oladimeji noted that the current leadership has created an atmosphere that attracts partnerships capable of transforming the fortunes of sports journalists across the country.
The key to the journey for professional journalism
Speaking further, Oladimeji said one of the biggest motivations for becoming a sports journalist is the opportunity to travel and gain international exposure.
“If you want to make money, don’t be a sportscaster, but if you want to see the world, be a sportscaster,” he noted.
He revealed that journalism has allowed him to visit more than 30 countries, adding that international exposure enriches reporting and improves professional standards.
According to him, the high cost of airline tickets remained one of the biggest challenges facing Nigerian journalists, with many media organizations unable to sponsor journalists to cover sporting events abroad.
“Most publishers are not encouraged to send journalists on missions due to high transportation costs. Through this partnership, we want to address this challenge and make travel easier for our members,” he said.
He explained that the partnership will also provide visa assistance and travel consultancy services to journalists who often struggle with travel documentation and logistics.
Inexpensive travel will improve reporting
Oladimeji says journalism thrives when practitioners have the opportunity to travel and witness events firsthand.
“When journalists can’t move, armchair journalism is encouraged. People simply sit behind computers and collect information from the Internet.
“But when journalists travel and see things with their own eyes, the reporting becomes richer, more accurate and more professional,” he said.
He recalled how he managed to travel from Egypt to Belgium for just $300 thanks to a proper travel guide and discount ticket deals, noting that similar opportunities would now be available to SWAN members.
According to him, the partnership would expose more Nigerian sports journalists to international standards and improve the quality of sports journalism in the country.
Benjamin: The partnership will benefit the members
In his remarks, SWAN President Comrade Isaiah Benjamin described the agreement as an important step toward improving members’ well-being and professional capacity.
He commended Oladimeji for constantly seeking opportunities that would advance the association and broaden its visibility.
“I have to sincerely thank him because he is always thinking about what can be done to grow and further develop the association,” Benjamin said.
The SWAN president said the leadership carefully reviewed the details of the agreement before approving it.
“Anything that benefits our members, we are always interested in. After reviewing the contents of this agreement, I believe it will help our members in no small measure,” he added.
Face the challenges of travel
Benjamin lamented the dangers associated with road transport and the prohibitive cost of domestic air travel in Nigeria, saying many sports journalists have been unable to attend major sporting events because they cannot afford the flights.
“You can imagine our members traveling thirteen or fourteen hours by road just to cover a game because they can’t afford the airfare. Some ultimately choose not to go at all,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the partnership will allow more journalists to attend major sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Agreement to strengthen sports journalism
Under the terms of the agreement, Byblos will procure discounted tickets for SWAN members traveling to destinations around the world, provide information on tickets, accommodation and visas, and facilitate access to events related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The company will also provide discounted domestic flight tickets for members undertaking assignments in Nigeria.
Benjamin assured the travel company that SWAN would fully support and promote the partnership to ensure that members derived maximum benefits from the agreement.
“For our part, we will do everything expected of us to ensure this relationship is successful and delivers value to our members,” he said.
The partnership is expected to open a new chapter in the development of Nigerian sports journalism by improving the mobility of professionals, increasing their participation in international sporting events and improving the quality of sports reporting in the country.
