*ONDO NUJ IN ONE YEAR UNDER OUR WATCH*
On behalf of my Executive members, I want to use this occasion to express our sincere appreciation to entire journalists in Ondo State under the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, for their support, encouragement and prayers in the last 365days that you entrusted the leadership of our union to us.
Our first year in office has been eventful and challenging. Today is meant to reflect on our performances during the year, take stock and evolve enduring relevant strategies for better performance in years to come with your continuous support.
Since April last year when the current leadership took over our union, God has been very faithful to us considering some accomplishments despite economic challenges confronting the nation.
1. PRESS CENTRE FACE-LIFT
When our current Executive took over
the mantle of leadership over few months ago, facilities at our Press Centre are begging for urgent attention especially the main Building which has this Big Hall, Secretary’s office, NAWOJ office, library and our Press Centre Bar which we are rehabilitating as our Recreation Centre (we will soon deliver it with a giant 65inches plasma TV & Air conditioners donated recently by the Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa). You will all agree with me that our press centre especially this main building is now wearing a beautiful look.
Also, we also appreciate HRM Oba (Dr) Adefarakanmi Agbede, the Olowa of Igbara-oke Kingdom who supported to resuscitate our PRESS CENTRE WATER FOUNTAIN which had been moribund for more than 12 years. Don’t forget the Royal Father assisted our union to erect the same fountain many years ago.
Still on Press Centre facilities, within the short period of our assumption of office, we have carried out palliative face-lift at Administrative Building of the union “PEN HOUSE” with the office of the Chairman and two rooms chalet are presently being upgraded, while we have repositioned and equipped our PRESS CENTRE CLINIC with the assistance of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
We are not there yet, the face-lift project is a short term measure while the long term plan for the press centre is to remodel the main building to a Storey building and develop our plots of land on the eastern part of the Press Centre in order to make our press centre more befitting and to generate revenue for the Union. We have done the necessary architectural design to this effect.
2. PRESS CENTRE GUEST HOUSE & CANTEEN ARE FUNCTIONING WELL NOW: Facilities at our Chalet/Guest House are being upgraded and it is functioning well now, while the Operator of our Bar & Canteen is being encouraged to render more quality services for our members.
We have been leveraging on our friends and contacts to better the lots of the union despite inadequate resources.
3. FREE NUJ MEDICAL OUTREACH; During our electioneering campaign, we promised our members that we shall be organizing Quarterly “Free Medical Outreach” for Journalists, Veteran Journalists & their Spouses @NUJ Press Centre Clinic, Alagbaka Akure. To God be the glory we have done three editions since we assumed office. We appreciate the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu and his hard working team for logistics support and personnel deployed for the free medical outreach.
4. AGITATED & SECURED THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES OWED THE HOPE NEWSPAPER RETIRED STAFF.
5. (a). PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW GENERATOR TO POWER THE PRESS CENTRE.
(b). REFURBISHING OUR TOYOTA CORROLA CAR FOR CHAIRMAN’S OFFICE.
6. SECOND PHASE OF PEN ESTATE PROJECT; We promised to deliver second phase of Ondo NUJ Pen Estate, i can confidently assure our members that in the next few days we shall release the guidelines and details of subscribing to the SECOND PHASE OF THE PEN ESTATE which is in Akure.
We urge those who have land at the First Phase of Pen Estate located off Akure Airport road at Osi Community in Akure North Local Government area, to fasttrack development of their assets to prevent encroachment.
7. EMPLOYMENT OF DECEASED MEMBERS’ WIDOWS; It is also pertinent to appreciate Mr. Governor again for passionately ordering the Recruitment into the Ondo State Civil Service, widows of two of our deceased colleagues. The two of them had since assumed duties as government’s full workers. This show of kindness by Governor Akeredolu has greatly reduced the sufferings and burdens of the widows and their children.
8. (a). MEMORABLE PRESS WEEK CELEBRATION WAS ORGANIZED IN 2022.
(b). NUJ LEADERSHIP & MEMBERS ARE MORE ACTIVE IN PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL EVENTS ORGANISED BY MEMBERS TO PROMOTE UNITY & COMRADESHIP.
9. TRAINING OF JOURNALISTLTS AND WAR AGAINST FAKE JOURNALISTS;
As part of deliberate measure to tackle the increasing rate of quackery in the profession, the Ondo State Council of NUJ under our leadership has set up a SPECIAL TASKFORCE against Fake Journalists in the state. We appreciate the Taskforce members for protecting the integrity of our profession always especially during the last 2023 general election.
TRAINING: In our quest to boost capacity of our members, the leadership of our Union both at the National and state levels organized some Training Workshops for journalists nationwide in which about 15 of our members from Ondo State had benefitted. Also, through our national secretariat and INEC, over 37 practicing journalists and information officers were trained on election coverage through a Special Workshop held at NUJ Press Centre, Akure. It is on record that all chapels and key media organisations in the state benefitted. On behalf of all of us, I appreciate our visionary and vibrant President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, MFR, who has approved the Special Training Workshop for Ondo State.
10. APPRECIATION:
Let me use this opportunity to appreciate our leaders and members especially our foremost leader, HRM Oba Rotimi Obamuwagun; our National Treasurer, Barr Dele Atunbi; Williams Olufunmi, my two immediate past predecessors (James Sowole & Tona Aderoboye); all the Chairmen & Secretaries of our chapels (SEC members), Veteran journalists, as well as our media executives. We don’t take for granted the huge contributions of some of our senior members namely; Reverend David Akinnadewo, Pastor Dayo Johnson, Pastor Tony Adetoye, Dr Gbenga Abimbola, Taiwo Ibitoye, DNCA Nike Busari, Tope Okeowo, Barr Sina Ogunjobi, Sola Obagbemisoye, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Sina Adeyeye, Sunday Ajibola, Sunmola Olowookere, Olumide Abudu, Olusola Alatise, Olubukola Aduwo, Doris Olumoko, Adeola Adekunle, Omo’ba Kunle Ariyo, Akinwumi Abodunde, Wahaab Bankole, Segun Giwa and the list is unlimited
Also, some personalities who assisted our union in giving the press centre main building a face-lift. We appreciate the Minister of State for transportation, Hon Ademola Adegoroye; the State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union matters & Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye; the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; the State Commissioner for Agriculture & Forestry, Hon Olayato Aribo; the State Chairman of APC, Engr Ade Adetimehin; the State PDP Chairman, Hon Fatai Adams; our Commissioner for Information & Orientation, Hon (Mrs) Bamidele Ademola-Olateju; the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde; the Chairman of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), Mr Tolu Adegbie; Hon Isaacs Kekemeke (APC National Vice Chairman, Southwest); the Finance Commissioner, Mr Wale Akinterinwa; as well as Hon Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands & Housing, Engr Raimi Aminu who supported in our quest to make our press centre look more befitting. The Vice President of NLC and National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, Comrade Sunday Adeleye Oluwole; the State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele; the State Governor’s Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale and Surveyor Kayode Oludare.
Permit me to thank our colleagues who keep our press centre lively on daily basis, here are few of them;
Pastor Dayo Johnson
Peter Dada
Revd David Akinnadewo
Omobomi Oguntolu (Agoro)
Sina Adeyeye
Bisi Longe
Victor Adegbehingbe
Baba Defender (Ojo Albert)
Sola Obagbemisoye
Sunday Ajibola
Barr Sina Ogunjobi
Peter Oluwadare
Dare Ajibola
Ayodeji Moradeyo
Yinka Oluwatuyi
Tosin Ajuwon
Prince Adewale Momoh
Joseph Adesuyan (Eti)
Jacob Akintunde
Kunle Ajibogun (Awesu)
Ayodeji (Owa of Igbara CPS)
Rahman Yusuf (Ray of Hope)
Segun Giwa
Segun Falomo (Galaxy)
Ayoola Fatokun
Bayo Adediran City Mover
Tunde Lawal TVC
Saheed Aribisala
David Fidelis
Kayode Animasaun (Jeje)
Temitope Adedeji (Germane)
Friday Otabor
Tayo Ikujuni
Alhaji Bisi Ajiboye (Sogigun)
Babatope Okeowo
Precious Oluwole
Tijani Balogun TJ
Tope Fayehun
Bolu Olu-Esho
Tola Gbadamosi (Acting NAWOJ Chairman)
Sunday Kolawole
Hosea Olusegun
Soji Ojomu AIT.
…..My hardworking Team: Hakeem Gbadamosi (Vice Chairman), Meshack Olaoluwa (State Secretary), Fatima Muraina (Treasurer), Ngozi Aduloju (Assistant Secretary), and Brown Arinmola-Lawani (Financial Secretary), I say thank you for your loyalty and massive support.
I thank you all & God bless.
_From: Prince Leke Adegbite (Chairman, Ondo NUJ)_
April 8, 2023.
