By Law Ibitoye
Yomi Ayeleso of the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper has emerged Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, following the chapel’s election held on Tuesday. Other elected officers are Rasaq Ibrahim of The Nation, Secretary; Oke Precious of Hope Newspaper, Treasurer; and Yinusa Ishola of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Vice Chairman.
In his acceptance speech, Ayeleso described his emergence as a call to service and greater sacrifice, thanking members for their confidence, support and collaboration. He pledged that the new administration would be transparent, inclusive and united, with no room for division, while ensuring that members were carried along in its activities and decisions.
Ayeleso promised to introduce innovative ideas and build on the achievements of previous administrations to reposition the chapel for greater impact. He said the leadership would strengthen its relationship with the Ekiti State Government and other stakeholders, while protecting the interests, welfare and professional rights of members and ensuring that available opportunities and benefits were fairly communicated and distributed.
The NUJ Ekiti State Chairman, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, congratulated the new executives and urged them to work closely with the State Council to further enhance the development of the union. He described their responsibility as a selfless service requiring dedication, sacrifice and commitment, and charged them to embrace accountability, transparency and collaboration while carrying every member along.
Also speaking, Emeritus Chairmen of the chapel, Comrades Rotimi Ojomoyela and Yakub Popoola, urged the new executives to uphold accountability, transparency, unity and collaboration. They described the Correspondents Chapel as a strategic and critical component of the NUJ and advised the leadership to remain committed to members’ welfare and the advancement of journalism.
The immediate past Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Raphael Ogbonnaye, appreciated members for their cooperation and support during his administration, which he said contributed to its achievements. He charged members to extend the same support to the new executive and urged Ayeleso-led leadership to build on previous accomplishments and work collectively for the progress of the chapel.
