FROM: Dappa Maharajah

THE Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State, has declared that it would encourage its members to always acquire training and retraining in the profession.

The new chairman of the chapel, Mr. Ojo Oyewamide, who was inaugurated alongside other executives in Akure on Wednesday, promised to secure admission for interested members and sponsor them to acquire higher qualifications to promote professionalism.

He said the sponsorship would enable members who had obtained various certificates in other disciplines but lacked professional certificates in mass communication or journalism to make up.

“We will give pride of place to training and retraining of our members. The Chapel will liaise with some institutions within and outside the state to secure admissions for our members who are willing to pursue more qualifications.

“We are going to try to have a training and retraining fund for our members. This new leadership will work on idea of this fund.

“We envisage a situation in which the chapel will have a handsome pool of funds set aside from which our members can be helped.

“We will see how to put together events where this pool of funds can be raised for the good of our members. A board of trustees will be set up to administer the fund,” he said.
Other members of the executive committee included: Mr. Olabode Olatunde of Unique FM, the Secretary; Mrs Bola Oriola of Daily Trust, the Vice Chairman and Mr Iyiade Oluseye of Alaroye, the Treasurer.

Oyewamide also promised that he would operate a participatory administration where all members would contribute towards the development of the chapel.

He assured members that their welfare would be given outmost priority, urging them to adhere to the ethics of the profession.

The chairman commended the members for giving him the mandate to run the affairs of the chapel for the next three years, imploring them to desist from actions that could jeopardize the unity of the chapel.

The Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State governor, Mr. Segun Ajiboye, who was at the inauguration, lauded the chapel for the peaceful change of leadership and transition.

Ajiboye expressed the willingness of the state government to always support and partner with the media in the state.
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Akingboye Joseph Oluwaseun