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Comrade Alhassan Yahaya has been elected as the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the union’s eighth triennial delegates’ conference held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The delegates to the conference elected Yahaya in a landslide at the union’s election held on the 27th of November during the events which ran from 26th to 28th of November, 2024.
Also during the congress, Dr. Abimbola Oyetunde emerged unopposed as the Deputy President of the union, thus becoming the first woman to attain the position in the NUJ.
Mrs. Aderonke Afebioye Samo was also re-elected unopposed as the Vice President of Zone B of the union while Mr. Abdulrazak Alege was returned as the zone’s Secretary.
Earlier in an address at the opening of the conference, the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, highlighted the duties of journalists in promoting democracy in Nigeria while also calling for responsible journalism.
Gov Uzodimma, who was the special guest of honour, expressed concern over what he said was “the rampant spread of fake news in Nigeria”, and warned against the effects of fake news in the society.
He called for a return to investigative journalism which he said would uphold national values and also educate the populace.
Uzodimma noted the pivotal role of journalists in nation-building and called on practitioners to remain diligent in their pursuit of truth while upholding the nation’s diversity.
According to the governor, journalists, as watchdogs of democracy, must go about their duties with equity, fairness and professionalism, pointing out that training was key in achieving these.
He lauded the leadership of the NUJ for their efforts at transforming the union, and also expressed delight at the choice of Imo State as the host of the union’s eighth national delegates’ conference.
In a lecture entitled: “Media and Democracy: The Journalist’s Role in Accountability”, Dr. Ike Nileaku, said democracy thrived only “when the electorate is well-informed” and urged journalists to “embrace investigative reporting over gossiping.”
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Chairman of the occasion, Senator Osita Izunaso, stressed the importance of passing key legislative bills to provide a robust framework for journalism in the country which he said would ensure that journalists effected meaningful change in the society.
The opening of the delegates’ conference was witnessed by dignitaries including the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajero; a former President of the NUJ, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, and Imo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Declan Emelumba.
The event was attended by over 1,000 journalists from all the 37 Councils and the six zones of the union across the country, and had featured various activities including a secretariat report and the presentation of audited accounts of the NUJ.
Meanwhile, various state councils of the NUJ have congratulated Comrades Alhassan Yahaya and Abimbola Oyetunde for their election and wished them a successful tenure in office.
The Oyo State Council, in a statement signed by the Secretary, Shola Oladapo, quoted the Oyo NUJ Chairman, Ademola Babalola, as describing Yahaya/Abimbola’s election as “historic.”
Oyo NUJ said the achievement of Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde was a “milestone which serves as a testament to her unwavering dedication and the progressive strides of our union” and added that “Comrade Alhassan’s triumph reflects his loyalty, simplicity, and strategic vision, which have endeared him to journalists across the nation.”
While congratulating Yahaya, Babalola said “his extensive experience and steadfast commitment to unionism are qualities that assure us of a new era of impactful leadership for our union.”
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