By Ogonnaya Umeham
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ has held an Extended Central Working Committee Meeting which incorporated Chairpersons and Secretaries of its State Chapters in the host Zone. The CWC charged the 3 Tiers of government to intensify efforts at combatting insecurity within the country. Stressing that the current economic hardship is in part traceable to the inability of farmers to man their occupation effectively for fear of being abducted or outrightly killed.
The meeting also called on States that are yet to assent on the Child Rights and VAPP Laws to earnestly do so. As this would curb the incidents of rape and molestation of the female gender.
The event was declared opened by the wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Hajia Aisha Bala Mohammed where she expressed her support and that of her NGO Al-Muhibba Foundation to NAWOJ both in the state and the National body.
-During the Courtesy visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, he tasked NAWOJ on the need to bridge the gap for more training and development opportunities for women journalists and to lend a voice in promoting women’s issues. He thanked the women journalists for choosing his state for their first physical meeting since after their election in 2023.
It’s worthy of note that this all-important CWC meeting is preparatory to the National Executive Council meeting of NAWOJ.
On the STATE OF THE NATION
NAWOJ commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his support in hosting the NAWOJ maiden physical Central Working Committee (CWC) Meeting in Bauchi. The meeting expressed satisfaction at the developmental strides achieved by the governor and his transformational leadership especially in engaging about 6 women in his cabinet.
NAWOJ CWC also commended Her Excellency Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed for her tireless efforts in putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged and for adding value to NAWOJ CWC meeting by shelving other engagements to make herself available throughout the duration of the opening ceremony, noting that her presence added value to the important meeting.
The meeting commiserated with Borno and Jigawa states on the recent tragedies of flood disaster and tanker explosion, respectively, that claimed the lives of over 600 people and the destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
The Extended NAWOJ CWC meeting which was both engaging and productive called on its members to adhere strictly to professionalism and maintain the highest standards of journalism practice in their reportage stressing also the need for training through personal development.
The CWC members showered encomium on the National leadership of NAWOJ under the leadership of Comrade Hajia Aisha lbrahim for a good outing and the innovation of having NAWOJ State Chapters Chairpersons and Secretaries from neighbouring states in the host Zone to attend the meeting.
The CWC members went further to commend Comrade Aisha led NAWOJ National Executives for not resting on their oars in advocating for women, girls, and the most vulnerable groups in the society.
The meeting appreciated Bauchi State Chapter Chairperson, Rashida Yusuf and her team for a seamless flow with the National Secretariat of NAWOJ in providing enabling environment to have a successful meeting with a lot of sweet memories of Bauchi ‘2024.
The meeting recommended the approval of lifting suspension on some of its members to NEC.
The rancor free CWC meeting considered and approved Comrade ljeoma Umeh as NAWOJ Communication Officer to Action Aid and also approved the appointments of Ex Officio and BoT Members.
NAWOJ CWC endorsed and expressed support for Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde as 1st female to contest the position of Deputy National President DNP of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ in the forthcoming Triennial Delegates Conference coming up in Owerri,lmo State in November,2024.
The meeting expressed gratitude to the personalities that attended the NAWOJ meeting, including the immediate past Secretary General of the NUJ Shu’aibu Usman Leman, who shared some constitutional roles of leadership in NUJ during the meeting.
Signed
1 Stella Macaulay
Vice Chairperson Zone F
2 Juliana Ofuko Secretary Zone D
3 Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu
Secretary Zone A