Comrade Grace Ike of the Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN) and immediate past chairperson of the House of Representatives Press Corps has been elected as the first female chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the Federal Capital Territory.
Ike, who is also the immediate past vice chairman of NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel polled a total of 445 affirmative votes to emerge as chairman of the council.
In her acceptance speech as the 17th chairman of the NUJ in the FCT, Ike on Wednesday, assured journalists of working with them and her team to revolutionize the affairs of the council.
Ike expressed her gratitude and appreciation to her supporters who dedicated their time, money and life to actualize her ambition, while scaling all hurdles in her path to emerge unopposed.
She acknowledged and hailed the recently elected national executive of the NUJ at the just concluded 8th triennial national delegates conference, in Owerri, Imo State, where Alhassan Yahya Abdulah was elected as the NUJ national president.
Ike described the election of the NUJ national executive as a well-deserved victory, saying their emergence “signifies a fresh chapter for our union at the national level.”
She pledged the support of the FCT Council and to collaborate with the new national leadership to strengthen and uphold the ideals of the journalism profession.
She said: “As I assume this noble office, I am guided by the timeless words of John C. Maxwell; a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. With this wisdom, we will navigate a path towards unity, progress, and excellence for our union.
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“A bision for progress; welfare.
The welfare of our members remains a cornerstone of this administration. From affordable health insurance schemes to empowerment initiatives, every member will feel the positive impact of our leadership.
‘Training and capacity building,
continuous learning is vital for professional growth. To this end, we will facilitate opportunities for both local and international training programmes.
“As a flagship initiative, we will sponsor 20 members for the 2024/2025 postgraduate programme at the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja, with a 50 percent subsidy—just the beginning of our capacity-building plans.
“Infrastructure and sporting activities, transforming our press center into a world-class facility will be a priority. Additionally, we will promote wellness and camaraderie through regular sporting activities, fostering a healthy body and a sound mind.
“We will establish dedicated committees with clear mandates and measurable deliverables to drive our collective aspirations.
“In collaboration with the NUJ national secretariat, we will actively advocate for the passage of the Media Enhancement Bill to safeguard and elevate journalism as a profession.”
However, the newly inaugurated FCT NUJ boss, appealed to members of the council to work together and come up with useful ideas that would move the council forward.
