The Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, has emerged the Director General of the campaigns coordinating committee for the reelection of Abdulwaheed Odusile as the National President of the union.
The Lagos State NUJ boss stated this in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday.
The statement reads in full:
Dear colleagues fraternal greetings. I humbly wish to inform you that I have accepted the mandate of coordinating the 2018 electioneering campaigns of the NUJ National President, Comrade Waheed Odusile for his second term bid.
I took up the Director General of the Campaign, based on personal conviction that his administration has focused on building the NUJ institution, enhanced professionalism and bracing the trail for media investment.
My commitment to his successes at the national Secretariat since my assumption as the chairman Lagos Council, has been hinged on providing purposeful leadership and adding value to our our great Union.
In the last three years ,the Comrade Waheed Odusile administration has consolidated and repositioned our great Union in the following areas:
A.Embarking on a breathtaking biometric registration of our members to finally enhance a comprehensive database of Journalists in Nigeria.
B. The NUJ national President moved the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, campus from.a rented apartment to the NUJ vast complex at Jahi. The first set of buildings and studios are now in place. A 3D unique iconic structure for the school and a befitting secretariat of the status of NUJ have also been submitted by consortium of Architects. The photo will be attached.
C. With the astuteness and doggedness of Comrade Waheed Odusile leadership, he has ensured that the NUJ national Secretariat complex ,connected to the national grid with the procurement of a transformer through the support of the Lagos State Government. Today, the union has been saved huge expenses on diesel procurement and attendant servicing of generators.
D. Comrade Waheed Odusile has ensured that training of members locally and globally on relevant skills are given to members within the available opportunities. At the International Press Institute, IPI, conference in Abuja ,comrade Waheed Odusile perfected arrangements for media exchange programmes with the Doha based Media group- All Jazeera and Doha media center. To the glory of God Abuja and Lagos Council Chairmen participated in the discussions.
E. Establishment of media investment outlet. It is now on record that the union has secured a TV licence through the establishment of corporate media company .The TV station will be located in Lagos, with bureau across Nigeria.
F. Welfare of Journalists:
A practical demonstration of welfare of Journalism has been the engagement of media owners of payment of salaries and provision of conducive media environment. Together we have engaged some publishers and media owners.
Instructively, the Abarenland land issue of Lagos Council is been addressed logically because the incumbent leadership in Lagos has provided the needed nexus to address the challenge with first a fact finding mission on the land which the NUJ NEC committee is finding useful. The last Lagos leadership and the NAWOJ failed to present the President with facts on ground because he also lost His hard earned funds to the housing scheme. I am confident this housing scheme issue will be resolved ,as both the President and myself are committed to justice for subscribers.
Along these above facts, I will be engaging you dear colleagues on other score cards.
I seek for your support for the second term bid of Comrade Waheed Odusile. Together we can. Yes. surely we shall deliver on our promises.