The veteran journalist makes a case for his decision to seek to occupy the position

By Emeka Ejere

Tony Nezianya, a veteran sports journalist, has declared his intention to run for the position of Olympic Committee public relations officer, PRO, 2018. “I am offering myself for service to the Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, a movement with four yearly mandates to present teams of youth to the Olympic Games and all other games to which Nigeria is affiliated,” he said in his declaration speech.

Nezianya, who had served in the committee in the same capacity a few years ago, said his uncommon passion for the movement made him not to hesitate to succumb to pressures from those who crave for his return.

He said, “I have an uncommon passion for the movement and because of this, I did not hesitate to accept pressures from friends, like minds and senior members of the movement, many of who craved for my return.”

Nezianya worked in the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, between 1983 and 2016, having joined the agency as a reporter.

He rose through the ranks as a resourceful reporter, to the position of managing editor/head of the Sports Desk of the agency.

He also served as a zonal manager in charge of the five South-East states, with regional headquarters in Enugu.

Before then, in 1992, Nezianya was elected as chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, a position he held for three years.

He served for two terms of four years each on the executive board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, as its public relations officer, PRO, among other influential positions.

– Dec. 12, 2018 @ 16:o6 GMT /