The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), being the umbrella organization of all practicing journalists in the country, no doubt needs and desires an urgent RESCUE, REVIVAL, REJUVENATION AND RESTORATION mission. The Union has witnessed and suffered degeneration and total lack of care and proper attention in the last few years. It therefore calls for serious attention and concern.
Accordingly, the NUJ is no doubt in dire need of quality leadership that will be able and capable with capacity, dignity and earned respect to pilot its affairs in line with its objectives as enshrined in its Constitution which is its body of laws.
When we talk of a leadership, we are talking of a leadership with listening ears and one that will allow voices of members to be heard and ideas shared as against being suppressed. This approach is far from others that arrogate to themselves and claim to know it all thereby personalizing the Union.
DELE ATUNBI Esq. has the desire, dream and lofty ideas to restore the Union to its enviable heights in which growth, needed progress and development of our noble Union shall be attained and sustained.
As journalists and students of history, we surely need to keep abreast with the developments in our country in such a way that will reflect positively on our great union.
At this time in the annals of our great union, the NUJ yearns for leadership that should not only unify but, create and generate interests of members in the activities of the union. This can only be achieved through experiences garnered and adequate knowledge and capacity to project the Union positively in any part of the world without any negative baggage.
Our union yearns for a President who shall be respected and with the capacity to critically address and push for an enhanced welfare of journalists and thereby raise the standards to an appreciable and desired level.
By his antecedents, MR DELE ATUNBI Esq, records of achievements when he served as Secretary and Chairman of the NUJ, Ondo State Council speak and remain visible. It was during his tenure as Chairman of Council that Mr Atumbi, a trained journalist cum Lawyer, worked and evolved the payment of weigh-in allowance for journalists in the State Ministry of Information before the Federal Government adopted and implemented it for their counterparts at the Federal level.
Talking of the wellbeing of journalists, Mr Atunbi, who as Secretary of Council, worked tirelessly with the then Chairman, now Oba Oluwarotimi Obamuwagun, the Olumoru of Imoru kingdom, and introduced medical treatment of journalists and members of their families in the NUJ clinic, ensured that the legacy was sustained in spite of increased cost of drugs and inflation of goods and services.
In providing selfless services to our great union, Mr Atunbi contributed immensely to the intellectual property of the NUJ. For the records, during the administration of our amiable former President, Mallam Muhammed Garba, Mr Atunbi served as a member of the NUJ Constitution drafting Committee. In addition, the same Mr Atunbi in the administration of the outgoing Central Working Committee, served as the Chairman of the NUJ Constitution Drafting Committee which most of its recommendations were adopted and enacted in Kano in January 2023 with the introduction of quality provisions for the uplift of the NUJ and its members.
Mr Atunbi does not believe in just holding positions for the sake of it, but is desirous of adding value to the Union.
We shall be reaching out to you with details of his actions plan for the Union as events unfold particularly when the whistle for the campaigns is blown.
Please, permit me to present to you, the Head of the Judiciary Desk of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), a Unionist par excellence and a man of noble and humble character, honour and integrity, who was two term Secretary and Chairman of Council, Vice President and current National Treasurer.
He is MR DELE ATUNBI Esq. (Michael Oyelakin Bamidele Atunbi) for the position of NUJ President.
I kindly solicit your support and prayers for this leader with integrity, humility and milk of human kindness who understands the issues in the Union and believes strongly that collectively, we can raise the banner of the NUJ to the desired enviable heights.
God bless the NUJ.
TOGETHER WE CAN
