The Nigeria Union of Journalists [NUJ], Correspondents Chapel in Ondo State has elected a new set of leaders to pilot the affairs of the chapel for the next three years.
Performing the inauguration of the new executive members at the Correspondents Chapel office in Akure, the state capital, the state Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo council, Prince Leke Adegbite charged the new leadership to be committed to their constitutional responsibility of information dissemination.
He urged them to be good ambassadors of the union, while describing the Correspondents Chapel as the eagle eye of NUJ where reference point are made.
The newly elected leadership are: Mr. Ojo Oyewamide of National Mirror Newspaper as Chairman, Miss Bola Ojuola of the Daily Trust Newspaper as Vice Chairman, Mr. Olabode Olatunde of Unique 103.1 FM Ilesa, Osun state as Secretary while Mr. Oluseye Iyiade of Alaroye Newspaper elected as Treasurer of the chapel.
Others position like Assistant Secretary, Financial Secretary and Auditor are to be put in place during bye election of the chapel.
Delivering his handing over speech, the outgoing Chairman, Mr Adetunji Adediran thanked all members for stayed behind his administration to succeed for six years in office.
He therefore implored the incoming administration to sustain and improve on the good legacies they left behind in order to take the chapel to the next level.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the chapel, Mr. Oyewamide said there would be training and retraining for the members in the profession.
He promised to secure admission for interested members and sponsor them to acquire higher qualifications to promote professionalism.
Oyewamide said the sponsorship would enable members who had obtained various certificates in other disciplines but lacked professional certificates in mass communication or journalism to make up.
His words, “We will give pride of place to training and retraining of our members. The Chapel will liaise with some institutions within and outside the state to secure admissions for our members who are willing to pursue more qualifications.
“We are going to try to have a training and retraining fund for our members. This new leadership will work on idea of this fund.
“We envisage a situation in which the chapel will have a handsome pool of funds set aside from which our members can be helped.
“We will see how to put together events where this pool of funds can be raised for the good of our members. A board of trustees will be set up to administer the fund”.
He also promised that he would operate a participatory administration where all members would contribute towards the development of the chapel.
The chairman assured members that their welfare would be well protected and promoted and urged them to adhere to the ethics of the profession.
He therefore commended the members for giving him the mandate to run the affairs of the chapel for the next three years.
The Chief Press Secretary to Ondo state governor, Mr. Segun Ajiboye who was at the inauguration, commended the chapel for the peaceful change of leadership.
He expressed the willingness of government to always support and partner with the media in the state.
Also speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Ondo NUJ Council Chairman, Mr. James Sowole urged the Correspondents Chapel members to join hands with the newly Executives in order to move the chapel forward.