The Kwara chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has congratulated the newly appointed Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in the State, Miss Joana Kolo.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement on Friday, issued in Ilorin by the association's Secretary, Olayinka Owolewa.

Owolewa in the statement reminded the new commissioner of the enormous challenges in the sports industry in the State which include deplorable conditions of some of the facilities at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.

According to the Kwara SWAN Scribe, underfunding of the Sports Council and lack of coaches to train athletes are some of the challenges facing the industry in the State.

The statement urged Miss Kolo to ensure Kwara United sustain its Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) status at the end of the 2019/2020 season while she also gives necessary support to other teams in the State.

The body called on the new commissioner to ensure that the state contingents to the 2020 National Sports Festival in Edo State experience good preparations ahead of the events.

The statement assured the commissioner, the readiness of the association to ensure she gets the needed publicity to make her work easier and focus on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to develop the sector.