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By Oluseye Ojo
A Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Adewale Akodu, has emerged the new Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, defeating his opponent, Innocent Anaba of the Vanguard Chapel, by 465 votes to 21 in an election held yesterday.
Akodu, who succeeds Adeleye Ajayi, pledged to prioritise journalists’ welfare, defend their professional rights and strengthen capacity building, while Philip Nwosu of The Sun Chapel was re-elected Vice-Chairman unopposed.
A total of 492 votes were cast out of 813 registered voters, with 486 declared valid and six rejected as invalid.
Other officials elected unopposed included Olayide Awosanya as Secretary; Adegboyega Oni, Assistant Secretary; Adeola Akindele, Treasurer; Oluwakemi Ishola, Financial Secretary and Lydia Igbaroola, Auditor. Awosanya succeeds Tunde Olalere, while Akodu takes over from Ajayi after the outgoing officials completed six years in office.
The election was conducted by an Electoral Committee chaired by Wahab Akinlade of the Radio Nigeria Chapel, while the results were announced by the Returning Officer and NUJ Vice President, Zone B (South-West), Ronke Afebioye Samo.
The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, was represented at the ceremony by the Deputy National President, Abimbola Oyetunde.
Speaking at his inauguration at the NUJ Lagos State Council Secretariat, 22, Iyalla Street, Alausa, Ikeja, Akodu said his administration would be anchored on three pillars: welfarism, professionalism and capacity building. He pledged to implement the 10-point agenda on which he campaigned, promising practical initiatives to improve journalists’ working conditions, promote professional development and strengthen ethical journalism.
Akodu said his administration would intensify engagement with media owners and employers to secure regular and timely salary payments, better remuneration and improved working conditions, while defending journalists against threats to their rights and professional integrity.
He also promised an inclusive and transparent administration in which every member would enjoy equal recognition and opportunities to contribute, irrespective of chapel affiliation.
The new chairman said the council would operate an open-door policy, encourage constructive criticism and ensure meaningful participation in decision-making.
He pledged to strengthen relations with the NUJ National Secretariat, sister state councils and individual chapels, while pursuing partnerships with relevant institutions and stakeholders.
Appealing for unity after the election, Akodu urged his opponent and members who supported opposing camps to put their differences aside and join hands with the new leadership.
“An election should never be allowed to destroy the bond of brotherhood that unites us as members of one professional family. The campaign is over; the task of building a stronger Union has just begun,” he said.
He called on union elders, past leaders, senior colleagues, chapel executives and young journalists to contribute their experience and ideas to the success of the administration, describing his emergence as a call to service rather than a personal triumph.
In his remarks, the NUJ National President urged the newly elected executive to be accommodating and run an inclusive administration that would carry every member along.
He also commended the immediate past leadership for its service to the union.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Ogunbanwo; former National Presidents of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Toro Oladapo and Ifeanyiwa Omowole; and NAWOJ Lagos Chairperson, Jumoke Johnson.
Also present were union elders Funke Fadugba, Gbenga Onayiga and Bola Akingbade, zonal and national officers of the union.
