Oyo SWAN to hold 4th Ramadan lecture Tuesday

THE Oyo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) will be holding the fourth edition of its annual Ramadan lecture on Tuesday, April 19.

The lecture, titled ‘Dos and Don’ts for Fasting Athletes’, will be delivered by a retired insurance broker, now an Islamic cleric, Alhaji Mudasir Bada, at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Alhaji Bada, a knowledgeable and widely travelled cleric, is the Chief Imam of Oluyole Estate Extension Central Mosque in Ibadan. He is also a television preacher who anchors a religious programme called ‘Quintessence’ on the BCOS TV.

The chairman of SWAN in the state, Mr Abdul-Azeez Adeniyi Alebiosu, explained that the lecture was aimed at enlightening athletes, journalists and other professionals on how to cope with fasting such that it would not affect their productivity.

“We want people to know that you can fast without getting slowed down. We deliberately chose this topic to enable fasting athletes to cope with the challenges of fasting and rigours of sports. And we are bringing a very sound and well versed cleric who will do justice to the topic,” Alebiosu said.

Also, the chairman of Oyo SWAN Ramadan Lecture Planning Committee, Mr Abass Ishola, said the lecture would be an eye opener to people as it would equally reveal the health benefits of fasting.

The lecture is expected to be attended by various dignitaries, including the national president of the Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Tade Azeez, who will be the chairman of the day and the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Oyo State, Mr Seun Fakorede, as the special guest of honour.

The mother of the day will be the association’s patroness, Ambassador Romoke Ayinde while the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Alhaji Ismail Ademola Babalola, is the chief host.