By Sunday Apah
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed his warm congratulations to Alhassan Yahaya, who has been elected as the new President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Yahaya, a member of the Gombe Media Corporation, becomes the first NUJ President from the North-East region, having been elected during the 8th National Triennial Delegates’ Conference held in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.
Prior to his election as President, Yahaya served as the immediate past Deputy President of the NUJ. In a historic move, Abimbola Oyetunde was also elected as the first female Deputy National President of the NUJ.
Other elected officials include Muhammad Tukur as Vice President Zone A, Ronke Samo for Zone B, Adeiza Momoh Jimoh for Zone D, Zare Baba for Zone E, and Dokubo Okpakamaba for Zone F. Victor Ndukwe was chosen as the National Treasurer, while Samuel Dada serves as the National Financial Secretary. Secretaries for the various zones were also elected, including Abdulrazak Bello Kaura (Zone A), Alege Abdulrazak (Zone B), Adiukwu Ezenwa (Zone C), Dauda Mohammed (Zone D), Abubakar Musa (Zone E), and John Angese (Zone F).
In a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, Governor Oborevwori praised Yahaya and the newly elected National Executive Council (NEC) of the union for their successful elections.
“The election of Alhassan Yahaya as the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists is a well-deserved recognition of his dedicated service, particularly his leadership as Gombe State Chairman and past Deputy National President,” the Governor said.
He further emphasized the significance of Yahaya’s election during these critical times, underscoring the essential role of the media, as the Fourth Estate, in holding public officials accountable.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I congratulate you, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, on your well-earned position as President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. I encourage you to prioritize the welfare of journalists to empower them in fulfilling their roles as champions of good governance and accountability,” the statement concluded.
Governor Oborevwori expressed confidence that Mr. Yahaya would bring about positive changes in the journalism profession, given his extensive experience and previous roles.
He also assured the new NUJ President and the union of his ongoing support and partnership, while commending the outgoing NUJ President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, for his significant contributions to the advancement of journalism during his tenure.
