Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Enugu State chapter, has elected new executives to paddle the affairs of the association in the next three years.
Inaugurating the newly elected executives on Tuesday at the NUJ Press Centre, Enugu, the National President of NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala, urged the newly elected executives to enthrone lasting peace and unity in the association.
Represented by the Board of Trustee, Zone C, Comrade Ngozi Mbah, the national president charged the officers “to perform their duties like never before.
“I want you all to work in unity. Let the unity with which we conducted the election, perform this inauguration remain with you.”
In her inaugural speech, the newly elected Chairperson of NAWOJ, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, thanked members for finding her worthy to pilot the affairs of the association “at this point in history.
“I am overwhelmed by the massive encouragement and support you extended to me during my campaign for this position and feel highly honoured to have your presence at this inaugural ceremony”, Ngene said.
She thanked members of the credentials committee, the NUJ chairman and his executives, NAWOJ national executives who approved that the election should hold and mandated Board of Trustees member, , Comrade Ngozi Mba, to oversee the election. She also thanked her opponent , Mrs. Chinyere Agbo, who stepped down for her, saying, ” I know this must have been a very difficult decision to make which must have been taken in the interest of NAWOJ. Indeed for me, it is the beginning of the unity I promised to bring in our association. Please let us appreciate God for this. I will not forget to appreciate my family members, friends and well wishers for standing behind me” she said..
“My promise to you is that I will make it my number one job to bring all great NAWOJians together so that we can fly as one. With my experience and passion , I promise to bring lasting peace in this our association by carrying every member along. I also promise performing leadership”. She urged members to support her executives for them to move forward.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State council, Comrade Sam Udekwe, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Regis Anikworji, thanked God for enthroning peace in NAWOJ.
“It wasn’t easy but thank God that at the end of the day, things went well. To Chinyere Agbo (candidate who withdrew), a very strong kudos to her for accepting people’s suggestions. I thank her very much for bringing peace here.
“Take your pride- in if you want NAWOJ to move. Wear a new shirt. Come into NAWOJ and share your ideas with your executives”, Udekwe urged stakeholders. He assured members of NUJ support.
In his remarks, the immediate past chairman of NUJ, Enugu State council, Comrade Rex Arun, charged members of NAWOJ to ensure that their reportage was done critically. He also charged them on welfarism and good leadership.
“You have to really follow the Constitution, follow your leader, bring in your own wealth of experience to support the new executives”.
Arum recalled his days as the NUJ chairman saying, “during my administration, there was trouble in the council and at the end we had peace .If we have peace in the political system of NUJ, we will have peace in the association. God is peace, His son is peace, we have peace, Arum said.
Others who spoke at the event were the former Chairperson of NAWOJ ,and current Assistant secretary of NUJ, Comrade Dame Ifeoma Amuta , Director of National Orientation Agency(NOA) , Enugu office, , Comrade Ify Ugwu, Deputy Director of News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), Comrade Ify Okonkwo, a Veteran Journalist and former NAWOJ Ex-Officio member, Comrade Onyeka Udegbunam, all called for love and unity in the association.
They urged the new leadership to initiate programmes that would move the union forward to be able to win national awards
Earlier, the Chairman of the NAWOJ 2022 election Credentials Commiittee, Comrade Amaka Odoh, thanked members for their support. She narrated the hard times the committee past through when they started sales of forms. She promised to conduct a peaceful, free and fair election ,which was achieved . Odoh commended the opposition candidate for Chairperson position, Comrade Chinyere Agbo of the State Ministry of Information ( MOI), who stepped down for the newly elected Chairperon , stating that Agbo stepped down in the interest of peace and unity of the association.
Odoh called on the new executives to have a listening ear, take advice, and carry members along.”We don’t want division this time around. Chinyere and her supporters are our members . Show them love. Let them be carried along..We don’t want a situation where people will start complaining. Emulate NUJ, where everybody is carried along. Sam Udekwe and his Vice , Regis Anikworji , are carrying everybody along ,” she said.
The BOT Zone C, Comrade Ngozi Mbah, on her part, said there was no victor, no vanquished. She said the opposing candidate (Comrade Chinyere Agbo) withdrew her candidacy. Her letter of withdrawal was presented to members. She dissolved the Executives following the motion for dissolution of the past executives moved by Comrade Ify Okonkwo and seconded by Comrade Amaka Uchenna Ezeh.
In a free and fair election conducted, Comrade Ngozi Ngene won with 23 votes, while Chinyere Agbo got 1 vote. Twenty five voters were accredited.
The newly elected executives are, Comrade Ngozi Ngene- Chairperson, Amaka Uchennadiukwu,-Vice Chairperson, Edith Ogochukwu Chikwudike – Secretary, Mary-Ann Moore -Assistant Secretary, Sylvia Udegbunam -Financial Secretary and Okechi Lucy Ibelegbu,-Treasurer .
Earlier before the dissolution of the past executives, the outgone acting Chairperson and newly elected Chairperson, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, said that the election that brought them in was conducted on 26th July, 2019 and she took over as the Acting Chairperson in November, 2021. She said that their administration had listening ears and organised seven programmes within the period.
Highlight of the occasion was taking of oath of office and presentation of Certificates of Return to the newly elected officers.
