Text Of Welcome Address Delivered By The Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, At The Opening Ceremony Of National Executive Council Meeting, Held At Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State On Friday June 21, 2024.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, FNSE

The National President of NUJ, Chief (Dr.) Chris Iziguso

The Deputy President of NUJ

The Vice Presidents

The National Secretary of NUJ

The entire CWC members of our great Union

My colleagues – council Chairmen and our ever supportive Secretaries

Past and present leaders of our Union at the National, Zonal and Oyo State here present

The State Working Committee members of Oyo NUJ

The national secretariat staff

Other Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press

It is with great pleasure and honor that I welcome you all to the official opening ceremony of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), holding in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Today marks a significant milestone for us as this is the first time the NEC meeting is being hosted in Oyo State.

Oyo State, being a pace-setting state, renowned for its serene environment and hospitality, is the perfect setting for this important gathering of journalists from all across the nation. We are truly privileged to have Chief (Dr.) Chris Iziguso, MFR, the National President of NUJ, preside over this meeting.

I would like to specially extend a warm welcome to Chief (Dr.) Chris Iziguso, MFR, a distinguished leader and a true champion of journalism. Your tireless efforts in promoting the rights and welfare of journalists in Nigeria are truly commendable. We are grateful for your leadership and dedication to the NUJ.

I also want to express our deep appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for the supports over the years. His Excellency’s support for the NUJ and the journalism profession as a whole has been outstanding. Also, your commitment to fostering a conducive environment for journalists to thrive in Oyo State is commendable. We are honored to have you as our Leader and the best Governor ever in our State.

The support that you have given NUJ in this state has been unprecedented. I must also say that the conferment of the honor – Grand Patron of NUJ in Nigeria, underscores the truism that you are a man of many parts, who has continued to have positive impacts in Oyo State, South West, and Nigeria as a whole. Your Excellency, may God continue to strengthen you to do more for humanity.

As Maya Angelou once said: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Quickly, I must state that as we are here today, we must acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. The rise of fake news, the erosion of press freedom, and the threat to our profession from vested interests that seek to undermine our credibility and objectivity are all issues that we must confront head-on.

We must adapt and evolve, embracing new technologies and platforms, while simultaneously upholding the timeless values of our profession. In this era of rapid digital transformation, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with the necessary skills to navigate the complex landscape of modern journalism. We must embrace innovation, embrace diversity, and embrace the power of storytelling to shape narratives and change lives.

It is through these efforts that we will secure the sustainability and relevance of our profession for generations to come. Together with my colleagues in the Executive, our journey of the last five years has seen us changing the face of our Union’s Secretariat by upgrading all the facilities we met on the ground to better and tastefully furnished modern structures.

These include but are not limited to Dapo Aderogba Hall, where we are now; Pen Group of School buildings; Guest Houses; as well as a N30million ICT Centre with Solar and Inverters. And more than any other time in the recent history of our Union, we can boast of three Utility vehicles with a dispatch rider. Others include an ongoing Journalists’ Estate and a new 150-seater Hall.

We have equally ensured training and retraining of our members while not toying with their welfare from time to time. On Monday, March 25, 2024, His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde, turned the sod towards embarking on construction of an ultra-modern NUJ Shopping Mall within the premises of this Press Centre, which will gulp multi-million naira.

This mall is not merely a physical structure; it symbolises our unity, our commitment to excellence, and our unwavering dedication to upholding the principles of journalism.

It is my hope that the NUJ Mall will serve as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. A space where journalists can come together, exchange ideas, foster professional growth, and continue to shape the narrative of our society positively.

The NUJ Mall when fully completed would have these facilities amongst others; 40 Lettable Shops; 1,000 Sitting Multipurpose Hall; Cinema Hall; Children Play Station; Outdoor Relaxation; a Guest House; Fire fighting station; Centrally controlled electricity; airconditioning, and water systems, amongst others.

Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of every journalist in Oyo State, especially the support of my Executive Members, starting from the Vice Chairman,  Seye Ojo; to the Secretary,  Sola Oladap;, Treasurer , Akeem Abas, Financial Secretary,  Abiodun Atilola; and our Ex-officio members – Dare Adekambi, Moshood Adebisi, Lola Alamu, Bunmi Elegbede, and Rofiat Animasahun-Badmus.

This address will be incomplete without a special mention of the Vice President, B-Zone,  Comrade Ronke Afebioye-Samo; the Secretary, B-Zone, Comrade Abdulrazak Alege, including all my distinguished colleagues (Chairmen and Secretaries of our Zone) and our National Trustee, Comrade Adebayo Akamo. I cannot mention everybody, and all I can say is that I appreciate you all.

Before I conclude this address, I would like to once again acknowledge the support and guidance of Chief Chris Isiguzo, MFR, the National President of NUJ.

His dedication to the betterment of our union has been invaluable, and we are privileged to have him leading us towards a brighter future for more than five years.

Sir, your commitment, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication have made the NUJ a powerful force in shaping public opinion and sustaining democracy in our nation.

To all the delegates, we thank God for the journey mercies. Please, enjoy your stay in Ibadan, the home of hospitality and many firsts. May you also find favour and protection of God throughout your stay and while going back to your various destinations. Amen.

Thank you.

…………………………………….

Chief Ademola Babalola,

Chairman,

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),

Oyo State Council