NUJ Kaduna Correspondent Election:
History Made As First Female Corespondent, Asmau Of VON Assumes Leadership Of The Chapel
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North – West, Nigeria
It was celebration garlore for Nigerian Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Kaduna and well wishers as one of it own hajiya Asmau Halilu of Voice of Nigeria (VON) emerged victorious as Chairperson in the just concluded NUJ Kaduna correspondent Chapel election.
With this success story, history has been made for not only is she the first female Correspondent Chairperson in Kaduna but Northern Nigeria as a whole.
This woman of credible character and years of journalism practice in her acceptance speech promised to work assiduously with her team in taking Kaduna correspondent chapel to the promise land.
Her words.
“This support is an indication of the love you have for me to serve in this capacity.
“As new leaders, we solicit for your continuous support to succeed in this task; we will always consult within the chapel, as well as with the State Council and other stakeholders to achieve giant strides.
“In our tenure, we shall prioritize the welfare of members; we (the new leaders), will collectively be like the mother hen, who will be responsible for every member and ensure that each person is properly taken care of, to the best of our ability.
“We will carry out journalism training and explore other capacity building opportunities for Chapel members, this will be pursued to ensure ethics and standard practice of the profession are upheld.
“We will do our best not to over rely on individuals and organisations for income. In due course, we shall run businesses to sustain the income of the Chapel. We intend to introduce a vibrant Cooperative, where members can save money and as well access loans easily.
“We shall set up a system that will address cases of misunderstanding and address misgivings among members. I promise to personally reach out to aggrieved members, if there is any, for a united body; We are better together than being apart.
Appreciating her contender, Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu who stepped down for her to be declared unopposed, she said,
“I acknowledge the bold decision taken by Mr Abdulraheem Aodu to ensure my emergence as Chairperson, I remain grateful. Thank you, Sir.
“Lastly, I extend my gratitude to the National body, our State Council and the outgoing Chapel Exco for their support, which I will continue to count on to succeed.
Not without remembering her constituency, NAWOJ, for being there for her in their struggles, she has this to say.
“I will not forget the women folk who rallied around me and added their voices to this clarion call, in Sha Allah, I will make us proud”, she declared.
Advising the newly inaugurated members, the National Ex-officio of the NUJ, Comrade Garba Muhammad, commended the women folk for the giant stride.
The national body he assured will give its support while urging that they work harmoniously as a team in order that they move the chapel forward.
In his remark, the Secretary of NUJ Kaduna State Council, Mr Femi Adi, called for unity among the chapel members, and assured them of the state council’s support.
He urged them to develop the spirit of comradeship by carrying every member of congress along as that will help in moving the chapel to greater height.
The Chairperson Kaduna NAWOJ, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu in a chat with Zainab Tanimu of Newsreservoir, in her excitement described the victory as ‘a dream come true’.
“I give God the glory for witnessing such an historic moment during my tenure.”
Thanking the NUJ National body, State Council and all the members that made it possible, she called on all NAWOJIANS to
give same support in other to leave behind an indelible mark.
The newly elected Executive members are,
Miss Rahila Abdullahi of Leadership newspaper, Assistant Secretary, Mr. David Onuoja, Financial Secretary. Mr Moses Kolo and Miss Stella Kabruk, both of News Agency of Nigeria, as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
The post of Auditor went to Mallam Gambo Abubakar of Legacy newspaper
