…Congratulates NGE President, 15 Others

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has congratulated the Editor-In-Chief and Managing Director of New Telegraph, Mrs Funke Egbemode on her election as the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The governor also congratulated a Director at The Tide Newspapers, Juliet Njiowhor and others who emerged victorious, during the 2017 edition of the NGE Biennial Convention.
Wike urged the NGE President and the new executives to work towards promoting media professionalism, objectivity and development of the country, and wished the NGE President a fruitful term in office.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), late Saturday, inducted no fewer than 57 new members into the elite club of editors in the country.
The new members are the acting Editor, The Tide Newspapers, Donald Mike-Jaja; 18 from News Agency of Nigeria; eight from Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria; three each from Nigerian Television Authority, The Guardian, and New Telegraph newspapers; two each from African Independent Television, Union Newspapers, and Voice of Nigeria; and one apiece from Channels Television, Leadership, Daily Times, SUN, PUNCH and National Mirror, among others.
Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph Newspaper, Mrs Funke Egbemode, was returned unopposed as president, just as two Vice Presidents – East and North – Fred Fabor and Hajia Sani, General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, and Social/Publicity Secretary, Ken Ugbechie, were also returned unopposed at the convention.
Other officers elected include Mr Suleiman Uba Gaya, who scored 97 votes to beat Ali M. Ali (96 votes), and Chooks Oko (69 votes), to emerge deputy president; Mustapha Isah scored 172 votes to beat Bolaji Tunji (78 votes), thereby emerging vice president, Weast.
The post of treasurer went to Ray Echebiri, who garnered 133 votes to defeat Sabastine Abu with 127 votes, just as Mary Atolagbe, retained her position by scoring 128 votes to beat two others – Sam Egbala (99 votes), and Casmir Igbokwe (21 votes).
For the seven Standing Committee positions, Juliet Njiowhor of The Tide warded off oppositions by scoring 140 votes to emerge winner, along with new entrant, Ikpong Essien-Udom, who scored 116 votes, to beat Ken Njoku (112 votes), and Eze Anaba (44 votes) for East, while Ibrahim Mamman and Catherine Agbo beat two others with 132 votes and 125 votes, respectively, to emerge representatives of the North.
Similarly, Austeen Elewodalu, Steve Osuji and Steve Nwosu scored 136, 135 and 127 votes to emerge Standing Committee members for West, beating four others in the keenly contested election.
The election committee led by veteran Journalist, Mr Ray Ekpu, supervised the hitch-free exercise, and declared the officers as winners.
In her acceptance speech, Egbemode said she would work hard to effect positive changes in the guild in two years.
“I regard this election as an investment and I will ensure that this confidence is treated with respect.
“I am truly humbled, lucky because of the numbers of editors that decided that one person is good and nobody should run against me,” she said.
The president assured that she would not disappoint her colleagues because they gave her an uncommon trust.
Inducting the new members during the dinner/gala night to round off the three-day 2017 Biennial Convention of the guild in Lagos, former president of Nigeria Union of Journalists and fellow of the guild, Bonnie Iwuoha, challenged the editors to maintain high level of integrity and discipline in the discharge of the professional duties, especially at this period of recession.

Nelson Chukwudi