By Okerafor Athanasius, Jalingo
Janet Audu Nyajon, Taraba State Correspondent of Daily Independent newspapers, has emerged Chairperson of the state chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
Declaring the results before delegates after a keenly-contested election held on Tuesday , February 11, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Jalingo, capital of the North-Eastern state, Chairperson of the electoral committee, Mrs. Elizabeth Usen Smith of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Jalingo, said prior to the polls, four seats were vacant.
Of them, the position of Chairperson was contested for while the other three had candidates who were returned unopposed.
Declaring the results for the position of State Chairperson, she said that Nyajon polled a total of 52 votes while her only opponent, Mrs. Rautha Umar of Taraba Television (TTV) garnered nine votes.
Mrs. Smith, who described the election as credible, free and fair, reiterated the need for the new officials to operate an open door policy with a view to carrying all members along.
She called on members to support the officials throughout their three-year tenure to enable them succeed.
The electoral committee boss added that since only four positions were contested for, it is expected that in three months’ time, the new officials would arrange for a bye-election to fill other vacant positions so as to have a complete executive.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Nyajon lauded his colleagues for handing her the responsibility to serve them.
Pledging not to betray the confidence reposed in her, she maintained that the welfare of members would not be compromised under her stewardship.
Her words: “My executives will partner with the Office of the First Lady of the State, Mrs. Agym Agbu Kefas, to enhance the welfare of members.
“I will also partner with NGOs towards organizing workshops for training and retraining of members, which is one of my priorities.”
Nyajon rallied her opponent, whom she addressed as “my sister” to co-operate and support her to render services to Taraba women journalists.
She dedicated her victory to all the women journalists in the state ate pleading for similar level of support given to the immediate past executives, for her new executive to succeed.
In a remark, the National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, represented by the Zonal Vice President, Comrade Dorcas Philemon, charged the women journalists to always avoid living rancorous lives.
“You people have given me so much pressure in the course of this election and there is the need for you to be united,” she advised.
Also speaking, Chairman of NUJ, Taraba State Council, Comrade Matthew Eluid Jen, while congratulating the new officials on their emergence, charged all journalists in the state to be serious in payment of their dues.
Other officials elected were Sarah Wando Mudwa of Worldview Magazine as Vice Chairperson; Doris Filbert Nfo of Taraba State Broadcasting Service (TSBS) as Secretary; and Iririben Danladi Nyatse, a staff of Taraba Radio (TSBS), Treasurer.
