Women Journalists in Edo State have been tasked to brace up for professional growth even as they were enjoined to always take advantage of openings for personal development and keep honing their professional skills wherever media service may take them.
Making this admonition at the NUJ Secretariat in Benin City during the 2022 Conference and Inauguration of new Executives to pilot the affairs of NAWOJ, Edo State Chapter for the next three years, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, National Trustee, NUJ, said that the NUJ at the national level is working towards reviewing the constitution of the union towards ensuring that all grey areas of professional terms of engagements, including basic educational requirements, work place and chapel of members are well and fully articulated.
“Everyone should get ready to up their skills and be fully equipped for the coming changes. It is not intended to witch hunt anyone, but we want to be proud of our union as a professional group. The NUJ President is making spirited efforts to leave a legacy of a professional union that we all can be proud of.”
Adesuwa Ehimuan was returned unopposed as Chairperson while Favour Idubor Percy and Tonia Nwachukwu were returned unopposed as Vice Chairperson and Financial Secretary respectively while two other contenders for the position of Chairperson were disqualified based on not meeting constitutional requirements as stated by the Electoral Committee Chairperson, Comrade Josephine Ewere.
Also speaking on professionalism, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, Chairman, NUJ, Edo State Council said that the current screening of NUJ members in the state is targeted at ensuring that quackery becomes a thing of the past as far as the union is concerned.
“For the first time, the state council developed a compendium of members which has become a model which some state councils are trying to adopt. In the beginning, it looked like a difficult embarkation, but today, we can proudly beat our chest and mention the number of qualified journalists in the state council.
And the basic requirements, include a Diploma in Journalism or Mass Communication, membership of a Chapel registered under the union and a recognized workplace.”
Congratulating those who emerged in the NAWOJ election, the Chairman said, “In this election, there is no victor and no vanquished. If you didn’t win today, you may win tomorrow. The preparations for that tomorrow starts today. We have a team that has emerged and I assure you that we will work with the returned team to move the association forward. We enjoin members to always attend congresses, whether at NUJ or NAWOJ level and be part of the process of organizational development.”
In her goodwill message, Comrade Eunice Emehazia, Zonal Secretary, NAWOJ (South-South), stated that the return of the Adesuwa Ehimuan led administration of NAWOJ is a confirmation of the niche the Chairperson has carved for herself in delivering on the mandate given three years back.
“In the South-South zone, wex are very proud of Adesuwa Ehimuan. Her leadership style is unique and her achievements are numerous despite the difficult economic times. No wonder why Edo NAWOJ under her leadership won the Zonal Award for the Best Performing Chapter in terms of project execution. On behalf of the National and Zonal leadership therefore, I implore you to be magnanimous in victory and carry all sides along in your various initiatives.”
Goodwill messages were also delivered by Comrade Itohan Osabuohien, Chairperson NLC Women Committee, who praised the resilience and diligence of Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan and wished her well in her renewed mandate.
Comrade Grace Ijeoma Umeh, former Chairperson, NAWOJ, Edo State, commended the administration led by Adesuwa Ehimuan for bringing stability to the association and sued for its sustenance.
“For a long while we haven’t had it this peaceful. NAWOJ Edo has not been in the news for the wrong reasons under this administration led by Adesuwa Ehimuan. It’s been basically positives all through and we cannot afford to trade off this atmosphere as professionals. We salute the Chairman of Edo State Council of NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, for the peace and stability NAWOJ Edo State has enjoyed thus far and appeal to him to keep it up.”
Veteran Journalist, Mr Peter Iyeke, Comrade Meg Odigie, Chairperson, AUPTER Edo State; Comrade Peace Sinclair, Zonal Trustee, NAWOJ and several guests, also made goodwill speeches wishing the new executives successful tenure in office.
Earlier in her valedictory speech, Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan stated, “We succeeded in changing the narratives in Edo State NAWOJ. For the first time over 50 members paid their annual dues without compulsion, nor did they wait as hitherto was the case, for candidates to pay for them during union elections. We had a whole new reorientation which renewed the hope of our members. We have been able to weather the storms, from Covid-19 to endsars. It has been a Herculean task, but God saw us through.
“We had collaborative efforts with various associations, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN)Edo State; Nigeria Labour Congress Women Committee (NLC- WC)Edo State; Lions Club District 404-A1; Edo State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDs (EDOSACA); Rotary Club of Benin, District 9141; Nigeria Red Cross (NRC); International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Edo State; AUPTRE Women Committee; Caring Heart Initiative and others. We gave women and youths support the modest way we could. We are not given any allocation, but a few goodwill here and there, even from members themselves, helped us drive the process of our numerous advocacies throughout the tenure.
“I wish to appreciate the members of this noble association for the support and cooperation we did enjoy in piloting the affairs of the association for the past three years.”
With a motion moved by Comrade Chinyere Onyeagba of Radio Nigeria, Bronze FM and seconded by Elizabeth Omokor of the NTA Benin, the executives were dissolved to usher in a new dispensation.
Barrister Kelly Agbonlahor from the High Court, Edo State, joined Comrade Eunice Emehazia, Zonal Secretary, Zone F, to administer the oath of office on the new Executives.
In her inaugural address, Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan said, “We promise to carry everyone along in our march towards consolidating on the mandate we got three years ago. Thank you all for renewing that mandate.”
Also making a vote of thanks, Comrade Percy Idubor said, “We appreciate our National and Zonal Executives, the NUJ Edo State Council for the peace we have enjoyed in NAWOJ, the ELECO for a transparent process and all leaders and members for the cooperation you all gave us and sue for its sustenance in this new dispensation.”
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