After winning the election of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Chairmanship, Comrade Adewale Akodu, took oath of office with other executive members.
Comrade Akodu who is a member of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy Chapel, assumed office as the new Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council, after, defeating his opponent, Comrade Innocent Anaba, of vanguard Newspapers with 465 votes against 21 votes.
Other positions were elected unopposed, with Comrade Phillip Nwosu as Vice Chairman, Secretary position goes to Olaide Awosayan, Asst. Secretary Adegboyega Oni, Treasurer Adeola Akindele, Financial Secretary Ishiola and Auditor goes to Lydia Igbariola.
In his acceptance speech, Akodu pledged to prioritise the welfare, professional development, rights and interests of journalists in the state.
Akodu expressed gratitude to members for entrusting him with the mandate, saying his administration would be guided by three major pillars: welfarism, professionalism and capacity building.
He said the administration would pursue practical programmes aimed at improving the welfare of journalists, promoting continuous professional development, strengthening ethical journalism, and equipping members with the skills required to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven media environment.
Akodu also pledged to protect the rights and professional interests of members, stressing that the Union would not remain silent whenever the welfare, dignity or professional integrity of any journalist was threatened.
According to him, the new leadership would intensify engagement with media owners and employers to advocate regular and timely payment of salaries, improved working conditions, better remuneration and respect for the rights of media professionals.
He said the administration was committed to achieving measurable results through purposeful engagement, strategic partnerships and consistent advocacy, rather than making promises without corresponding action.
The NUJ Lagos chairman further pledged to build a united and inclusive Council where every member would enjoy equal recognition, respect and opportunity to contribute to the development of the Union.
He called on members across the various chapels to work together, irrespective of their affiliations, and promised to promote mutual respect, fairness, transparency and comradeship within the Council.
Akodu assured members that his administration would operate with accountability, transparency and consultation, while maintaining an open-door policy that would encourage constructive criticism and meaningful participation in the affairs of the Council.
He also promised to strengthen the relationship between the Lagos State Council and the NUJ National Secretariat, sister state councils, individual chapels and other relevant institutions and stakeholders.
He said the Council would work to position Lagos NUJ as a credible, respected and influential voice within the media industry, while protecting the image of the Union and upholding the ethics of journalism.
The new chairman acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that while every problem might not disappear immediately, his administration would confront them with courage, sincerity and determination.
Akodu also extended an invitation to his fellow contestants and members who supported different candidates during the election to join hands with the new administration.
He urged members to put the election behind them and work collectively for the progress of the Union, stressing that an election should not destroy the bond of brotherhood among members of the same professional family.
“The campaign is over; the task of building a stronger Union has just begun,” he said, calling for unity, service and collective progress.
The chairman also appealed to elders, past leaders, chapel executives, senior journalists and young practitioners to contribute their experience, ideas and energy towards the success of the new administration.
He said the new executive would regard its mandate as a call to service rather than a personal triumph, adding that leadership should be measured by its impact on the lives of those entrusted to its care.
Akodu declared that his administration would strive to build a Union where journalists are respected, their welfare protected, their professional capacities strengthened and their voices heard.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Ogunbanwo; Deputy National President of the NUJ, Abimbola Oyetunde; former national presidents of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Toro Oladapo and Ifeanyiwa Omowole.
Others were Vice Chairman, Zone B, Ronke Samo; NUJ elders and leaders; Chairman, NAWOJ Lagos, Comrade Jumoke Johnson; immediate past Chairman of NUJ Lagos State Council, Comrade Adeleye Ajayi; immediate past Secretary, Comrade Tunde Olalere; and other members of the immediate past executive, among other delegates and journalists.
Akodu concluded by
calling on members to support the new administration, saying the success of the Council would ultimately depend on the collective commitment of its members.
Meanwhile, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, described Monday’s council election as peaceful, credible and transparent.
They urged the incoming leadership to prioritise unity and members’ welfare.
The outgoing chairman, Adeleye Ajayi, described the turnout as massive and unprecedented in the history of the council.
He said the exercise was peaceful and expressed hope that future elections would follow the same pattern.
General Manager of Radio Nigeria 103.5 FM, Lagos, Korede Ogunbunmi, also described the process as peaceful, though slow.
He urged the new executive to unite members and fulfil its campaign promises.
“My advice is that the new executive must unify the council, see all journalists as members of the same family and fulfil its manifesto,” he said.
General Manager of Bond FM, Gbenga Fatile, described the election as credible and commended the accreditation and voting processes.
He urged the new leadership to strengthen partnerships with corporate organisations, government and other stakeholders to improve journalists’ welfare and working conditions.
Former Secretary of the council, Biodun Akinbusoye, also described the election as peaceful and orderly.
He urged the winners to be magnanimous in victory and carry all members along, irrespective of their affiliations during the election.
Akinbusoye identified poor remuneration and unpaid salaries as major challenges facing journalists, urging the incoming leadership to engage media organisations on welfare issues.
“Many media houses don’t pay salaries. That is the issue,” he said.
Chairman of the Lagos Television Chapel, Anita Buhari, described the exercise as peaceful and well-organised.
She urged the new leadership to prioritise members’ welfare and sustain training and retraining for journalists.
Former Treasurer of the council, Bola Akingbade also described the election as free and fair.
She urged the winner to see himself as a rallying point and carry all members along.
“The person should not just see himself as a winner. He should see himself as a rallying point and carry every other person along,” she said.
Yemisi Dada of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and Grace Alagba of the News Agency of Nigeria Lagos Chapel also described the process as peaceful, fair and seamless.
Sulaimon Saliu of the FMMC Chapel described the exercise as excellent and transparent, noting that most chapels were represented.
Nelson George of the Business Plus Chapel and Deborah Ochaba of the Radio Lagos/Eko FM Chapel also described the election as free, fair and peaceful.
The journalists expressed optimism that the peaceful atmosphere would be sustained and that the new leadership would work towards a more united and prosperous council.
