In what observers described as ‘a historic peaceful and smooth exercise,’ the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), yesterday, conducted election into its executive positions to lead the group in the next three years as stipulated in its constitution.
The election, which was held at the Eleganza Plaza Office of the association, produced Mr. Kelvin Igho Kagbare as President, while Vera Osokpo and Mr. ‘Segun Oladipupo, emerged Vice President and Secretary-General respectively.
Others who won the various positions include Mr. Ugochukwu Ezurike (Assistant Secretary); Mr. Raymond Tejundaye (Financial Secretary); Mr. Barnabas Esiet (Treasurer); Mr. Uzor Odigbo (Public Relations Officer); Mrs. Rhoda Ogunseye (Welfare Officer) and Mrs. Gloria Nwafor (Provost).
Representatives of the Apapa Port Command of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Bello and Mr. Afengbai A. Bello of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), who monitored and served as observers of the election, described the process as hitch-free, fair, credible and an exercise that met all known global practices in democratic settings.
Chairman of the Election Committee, Mr. Ismail Aniemu, who announced the results of the election, also commended the process starting from the nomination of the candidates, procurement of forms, the screening exercise and the final outcome of the AMJON poll.
He charged the President elect and incoming executive members to use their good offices to move the association forward, maintaining that winning election is another thing, but performing in office was a different ball game altogether and that all hands must be on deck to assist and support the new executive to deliver on the association’s mandate.
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Aniemu, who also stressed the need for journalists, who are members of the group to deepen their reportage of the maritime industry, charged them to go beyond the run-of-the-mill reporting of activities of government agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), among others.
“Reporting the maritime industry goes beyond copying and pasting press statements from Public Relations Officers (PROs) of the agencies. It goes beyond reporting revenue generation profiles and activities of the Customs, NPA, NSC, NIMASA and others.
“Journalists covering the industry must do better by investigating the other activities of the agencies to put them in check towards delivering greater value to the nation’s economy. That is how they can stay relevant in the industry,” he stated.
Also speaking, outgoing President of AMJON, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri, commended the members for their spirit of unity and support during his tenure that lasted the past six years, saying they should accord the incoming administration the same support in order to achieve the set objectives of the organization.
In his acceptance speech, Kagbare, who commended the smooth conduct of the election and the support of members throughout the campaign period and the actual poll, also solicited the support of the past and present executive and all members to move AMJON the next level.
He pledged an all inclusive regime that would prioritize members’ welfare, training to engender human capital development, robust collaboration with industry stakeholders aimed at promoting a positive outlook for the entire maritime industry.
The new AMJON leadership would be sworn in at a later date in November 2024.
