Award
By Emmanuel Ikechukwu-Jonathan
THE award-winning poet, Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, has been elected Chairman of Nsukka Journalists Foundation, NJF, alongside other members to pilot the affairs of the foundation for the next three years as the executive committee arm of the NJF.
Amu-Nnadi pulled a total of 51 votes to emerge victorious ahead of Prof. Nick Idoko, who scored 2 votes, while one of the Vice Chairmanship candidate, Obioma Ogili, stepped down for Amaka Ukwuaba of NTA, who was declared the winner as an unopposed candidate.
The election was part of the programmes of the year 2020 Annual Convention of the NJF, which was held on Friday, October 2, 2020, at Jerry Marriot Hotel, Nsukka with members from across the country in attendance.
The Convention started by 10am with safety and health measures established to observe Covid-19 protocols in place.
It will be recalled that the Nsukka Journalists Foundation has been operating with an interim executive led by Prof. Nick Idoko since 2018 when it was founded.
The candidates, who indicated interest to vie for the different executive positions advertised by the electoral committee on the NJF WhatsApp platform were made to purchase expression of interest form and also present manifestoes as requested by the Electoral Committee, led by Aka Eze Aka, in line with the rules and regulations guiding the elections.
The electoral committee conducted the elections in an orderly and peaceful manner, observing the principles of equity, justice and fairness to make sure that the seven local government areas that make up Nsukka Cultural Zone were accommodated by producing at least a member in the executive committee.
After the keenly contested elections, the following persons were elected to pilot the affairs of the Foundation for the next three years: Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, Chairman (Igbo-Etiti LGA), Amaka Ukwuaba, Vice Chairman (Igbo-Eze North), Brendan Eze, Secretary (Udenu), Francis Ede, Treasurer (Isi-Uzo LGA), Emmanuel Ikechukwu-Jonathan, Public Relations Officer (Igbo-Eze South LGA), Bruno Chijioke Aruma, Financial Secretary (Uzo-Uwani LGA), Ikechukwu Odu, Provost (Igbo-Eze North LGA), Ositadimma Ugwu, Director of Socials (Nsukka LGA), and Agatha Agu, Assistant Secretary (Igbo-Etiti LGA).
Meanwhile, in appreciation of the unwavering support of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in building the Foundation and developing Nsukka Cultural Zone, members present at the convention unanimously approved his appointment as the Grand Patron of Nsukka Journalists Foundation, NJF.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, commended the members of the NJF for finding him and other members of the executive committee worthy to pilot the affairs of the foundation.
According to the Chairman, it wasn’t long he presented to the house by way of manifesto what he thinks should be the way forward for the foundation, adding: “Today by the grace of God, I have been elected to actualize that vision. I am not good at making speeches, but one of the major task of the new leadership will be to unite ourselves so that we will have one voice in our operations.
“To this effect, I sincerely commend the effort of Prof. Nick Idoko, whom we should apologize to for whatever that has gone wrong in the foundation. We need him so much on our side as a senior brother, who has gathered much experience in leadership and development.
“Our affairs will be open. Our affairs will be transparent. You will know what is coming in and what is going out. We are going to ensure that every member of this foundation is effectively carried along in terms of welfare. We can use NJF to attract a lot of development to our people and cultural zone.”
The Chairman also thanked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who has been so supportive to the NJF, adding that his administration will continue to reach out to the governor and the Chairmen of different LGAs in Nsukka Cultural Zone so as to be able to point to the government the areas of development needed in Nsukka Cultural Zones.
In his words of advice, the spokesman of the President General of Ohanaeze, Emeka Attamah, noted that the NJF has come to stay, adding that all that transpired before and after the election were indications that the NJF was making progress.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Anambra state, James Eze, in his advice, urged the newly elected executives to work towards the actualization of the objectives of the Nsukka Journalists Foundation, adding that whatever that transpired during and after the elections should not be allowed to drag the foundation backward.
The Chairman of the BOT, Ike Abonyi, blamed the challenges experienced by the foundation on the members, adding: “We are all liable to whatever good or bad that has happened to this foundation and the only thing required of us now is to come together to move this noble foundation forward.”
He urged the electoral committee to print all the manifestoes of the different executive committee members and file them so that it will be a reference material in case the executive committee members fail on their duties to the NJF.
The high point of the convention was the inauguration of the new executive committee by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ike Abonyi and also a cultural performance by Ikorodo Orba, which was invited to entertain the members at the annual convention.
– Oct. 5, 2020 @ 17:35 GMT |
Tags: Award winning poet Chijioke Amu-Nnadi emerges Chairman of Nsukka Journalists Foundation
