Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has congratulated Alhassan Yahaya, the newly-elected President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

Yahaya, who works with the Gombe Media Corporation, is the first NUJ President of North-East extraction, and was elected at the NUJ 8th National Triennial Delegates’ Conference, held in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.

Until his election, Yahaya was the immediate past Deputy President of NUJ. Abimbola Oyetunde was also elected as the first female Deputy National President of the NUJ. Oyetunde becomes the first woman to occupy the position.

Also elected were Muhammad Tukur – VP Zone A; Ronke Samo – VP ZONE B; Adeiza Momoh Jimoh – VP Zone D; Zare Baba -VP Zone E; Dokubo Okpakamaba -VP Zone F; Victor Ndukwe – National Treasurer; and Samuel Dada – National Financial Secretary

Others are Abdulrazak Bello Kaura – Secretary Zone A; Alege Abdulrazak – Secretary, Zone B; Adiukwu Ezenwa – Secretary, Zone C; Dauda Mohammed – Secretary, Zone D; Abubakar Musa, – Secretary, Zone E; and John Angese – Secretary F.

Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, congratulated the President and all newly elected National Executive Council ( NEC) of the union on their successful election.

“The election of Alhassan Yahaya as the new President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists was not a surprise, following his antecedents as Gombe State Chairman and immediate past Deputy National President of the union.

“The emergence of Yahaya is significant and momentous, especially at this time. At this crucial juncture in our nation, the media, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, must actively fulfil its essential watchdog function by holding public officials accountable.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, on your well-deserved election as President of Nigeria Union of Journalists.

“I urge you to make the welfare of journalists a top priority so that they would be better disposed to playing the critical roles expected of them as agents for good governance and accountability,” the statement added.

He expressed optimism that Mr. Yahaya would make a positive difference in this task, given his wealth of experience and the positions he had occupied in the profession.

The Governor, while assuring the new NUJ President and indeed the union, of his support and partnership at all times, congratulated members of the NUJ for a successful election.

He also commended the immediate past President of NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo, for his contributions to the development of the journalism profession while in office.

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