New NGE Complex Ready In 2017 – President

The President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Femi Adesina, has assured that the new secretariat complex of the Guild would be completed before the end of his second tenure in 2017.

Adesina, who gave the assurance, Saturday, at the gala night/dinner to herald the end of the 2015 Biennial Convention of the Guild at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, said that everything has been put in place to ensure that the building, to be located in Abuja, is started in earnest and completed before he hands over to any elected president at the next biennial convention.

The NGE president, who was re-elected at the convention, pointed out that the resources for the project, including land and funding, have been secured, and assured that as soon as the new executive hits the ground running, the project would commence.

He promised to give the Guild quality and transparent leadership, devoid of acrimony but laced with sound professional practice, integrity and respect for guiding ethics, and thanked members for the orderly manner they conducted themselves during the course of the convention as well as the election.

Adesina said that the maturity exhibited by members, including distinguished fellows, who participated in the entire programme, shows that the Guild has consolidated on the gains made in nurturing democracy in the country, but also warned that laxity, indiscipline, abuse of professional code of conduct and ethics would not be tolerated, as members found to have violated extant rules of the game would be sanctioned.

The officers elected with Adesina include, Garbadeen Mohammed, deputy president; Mrs Victoria Ibanga, secretary; Mary Atolagbe, assistant secretary; Mrs Funke Egbemode, social/publicity secretary; Suleiman Uba-Gaya, vice president, North; Steve Ayorinde, vice president, West; and Frederick Fabor, vice president, East.

The convention also elected standing committee members, including Ken Ugbechie, Ray Echebiri, and Austen Elewodalu for West; Sebastian Abu and Sanni Adamu for North; and JJuliet Chinda Njiowhor and Ken Njoku for East.

Also at the gala night/dinner, some 28 Editors across the country were inducted into the prestigious club of the body of Editors in Nigeria.

The unique induction, performed by the former national president, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bonnie Iwuoha, witnessed the taking of the oath of allegiance, presentation of certificate of membership as well as the NGE Constitution to the new members.

Those inducted include, Sir Uchenna Timothy Dike of Umuahia-based Broadcasting Corporation of Abia; Mr Nelson N. Chukwudi, The Tide Newspapers, Port Harcourt; Allen Prussia Suotegha, Niger Delta Television, Yenagoa; Pastor Paul Damgbo, Rivers State Television, Port Harcourt; Prince Anya Okorie, Ebonyi Broadcasting Service, Abakaliki; and Adedoja Tokunbo, ThisDay Newspapers, Lagos.

Others are, Adetoro Adebola Oladapo, Alausa Alert, Lagos; Ayoola Adetokunbo Olesin, Global Media Mirror, Lagos; Lola Ebueku Helen Abieyuwa, NTA, Aba; Momodu Shaka, ThisDay Newspapers, Lagos; Ukoh Obike, NAN, Abuja; Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu, NAN, Abuja; Isaiah Olagoke Olatoye, NAN, Lagos; Nwadioha Felix Onuabuchi, NAN, Abuja; as well as Mufutau Folorunsho Ojo, NAN, Ibadan.

Also inducted were, Suleimon Muhammed Tola, NAN, Lagos; Abdulfatah Babatunde, NAN, Lagos; Augustine Ewedapo Akintunde, NAN, Lagos; Adeleye Olugbenga Ajayi, NAN, Lagos; Gbemisola Erinoso-Babalola, NAN, Abuja; Felix Adebowale Ajide, NAN, Abuja; and Igwe Innocent Ndubuisi, Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Owerri.

The rest are, Esther Chika Oyegue, Cool FM, Lagos; Rasak Olakunle Owolabi, NAN, Lagos; Adenrele Ajisefinni, FRCN, Ibadan; Nik Ogbulie, Business Newspaper, Lagos; Ayanru Amenze Igbiebor, NTA, Asaba; Marry Enniang, NTA, Calabar; and Ebiakpo Ojeke-Aderie, Niger Delta Television, Yenagoa.

Nelson Chukwudi