Seasoned journalist, Comrade Michael Enejeta Ilaya has emerged as Chairman of Isoko Correspondent Chapel for a second tenure that would last three years.
Ilaya defeated Comrade Michael Johnbull Ekokoruwe in a keenly contested election to clinch the coveted chairmanship position.
The election was conducted on 28 August 2024 by a 3-man team of executive officers of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe.
Comrade Josephine Omodion, Assistant Secretary of NUJ Delta State conducted the election under the watchful eyes of Comr. Churchill Oyowe and Comr. Celestine Afokobah, as the members of the Isoko Correspondent Chapel turned out in their numbers to cast their ballots.
Only the Chairmanship position was contested for. The positions of Secretary and Financial Secretary had only one candidate each, namely Comrade Matthew Umueruno Unyove and Comrade Kelvin Efeoma Ohoror, upon which they were returned unopposed.
The positions of Vice-chairman, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, and Auditor are vacant as no candidates vied for them.
In his speech, the newly elected chairman, Comr. Michael Ilaya thanked members of the Isoko Correspondent Chapel for finding him worthy of piloting the affairs of the chapel for another three years.
He said, “My election is a testament to the confidence members of Isoko Chapel repose in me and a compelling call on me to put more effort into growing the chapel meet the expectations of the members, and improve the journalism profession.
He solicited the cooperation of the members to make the desired progress, saying, “I appeal to every member of the chapel to show more commitment to help me grow the chapel and they should take the journalism profession seriously so that the Isoko chapel will grow in leap and bounds.”
Continuing, Comr. Ilaya commended Comr. Michael Ekokoruwe for his courage and commitment to contest for the position of chairman, stating that such a challenge is a morale booster for him to scale his performance in the interest of all members.
He thanked the Chairman of NUJ Delta State Council, Comr. Churchill Oyowe for his pragmatic leadership endowment, noting that he promptly granted the request of the Isoko Chapel by finding a competent member of the Chapel, Comr. Emmanuel Ekebe worthy of the position of Ex-Officio.
He poured encomiums on Comrade Oyowe for breaking a jinx in the approval of rotational state congress to avail journalists across the state the opportunity to attend state congress and have a feel of it, adding that it was a herculean task for the past leadership of NUJ Delta State who never put the innovation to practice.
Continuing, Comr. Ilaya appealed to Comr. Oyowe to “carry the Isoko Chapel along” in his policies and programmes, assuring of the Chapel’s unalloyed support to his administration.
“I’m making an appeal to the state council to always look ‘towards our direction’ to grow our chapel. I count on the sagacious leadership of the Chairman of NUJ Delta State Council, Comr. Churchill Oyowe,” he stated
Speaking, Comr. Churchill Oyowe congratulated the members of Isoko Correspondent Chapel for participating in the election towards advancing the progress of the chapel.
He congratulated Comr. Ilaya for his election for second tenure, describing the outcome of the election as God’s will.
Continuing, he advised Comr. Ilaya to see his emergence as another opportunity to give a new lease of life to Isoko chapel and bring every member together in unity towards building a progressive chapel.
He said that Isoko Chapel had done very well for performing 100% in payment of checkoff dues and professional fees, noting that such a feat had been recurring over the years.
He added, “I thank you specifically for your support to the state council and the overwhelming support you gave to our team. We shall pay you a thank-you visit when the press week begins this year.”
Comr. Oyowe called on the leadership of the 18 Chapels of the NUJ Delta State Council to ensure their members pay their professional fees as and when due, stating that the national body of NUJ seriously frowns at the inability of chapels to meet their financial obligations, adding that grave sanction such as “closing down” of defaulting chapel(s) would be considered appropriate by the NUJ National Body.
He urged the new leadership of Isoko chapel to endeavour to fill the vacant positions that were not contested for to put the chapel in a firm position to function optimally.
Comr. Emmanuel Ekebe eulogized Comr. Churchill Oyowe for performing creditably in office, adding that his promise to the Isoko chapel and to commence rotational congress had been met without wasting time. He pledged unalloyed support of NUJ Isoko Chapel to his government to ensure it makes greater progress in the coming years.
The newly elected executive took the oath of office administered by Comrade Josephine Omodion.
