By Amos Ogunrinde
About one thousand delegates from 36 states and the federal capital Territory have elected new National executives for the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ.
At the end of its 10th National Triennial Delegates conference in Minna, Niger State over the weekend, (Saturday), Ladi Bala, an indigene of Adamawa State and a principal Editor with Nigeria Television Authority NTA clinched the exhaustive position of the NAWOJ National president.
In a keenly contest, Ladi Bala defeated three other NAWOJ presidential aspirants to emerge winner.
The returning officer, Chief Boniface Okolo Ezeogo, who announced the results at the end of the exercise, declared Ladi winner and returned elected.
Ladi Bala polled a total of 439 votes to beat her closest rival, Aisha Ibrahim from Borno state who had 251 votes, Lucy Danjuma Chindaba from Plateau State came third with 85 votes, while Ruth Abubakar from Gombe state polled 48 votes.
Other elected members of the executive included Okonkwo Lillian Ogbebu Deputy vice president, Helen Udofia, National secretary, Yinka Bode-Are Assistant secretary, Fatima Rasheed from Kwara was elected National Treasurer, Dorothy Abellaga Internal Auditor and Adeola Adekunle of Adaba FM Akure became Financial Secretary.
Also, Omobola Akingbehin, an Assistant Editor-In-Chief with the news Agency of Nigeria, emerged as the Vice president ‘B’ Zone of NAWOJ.
By the victory, Mrs Ladi Bala and her new officers will be at the helms of affairs of the association for the next three years.
In her acceptance speech the national president, Ladi Bala appreciated God and all members who made her dream to come through, with a pledge not to fail all members of the union.
She promised to be more creative by introducing news ways of doing things in the running of the association.
The NAWOJ National president also pledged to give the association more visibility by engaging stakeholders on critical issues, especially development issues that border on women and children, pointing out that she will enhance the capacity of NAWOJIANS through training and retraining of members.
Tears of joy flowed uncontrollably from her supporters as Ladi Bala fell down thanking Almighty God for her victory.
The 10th Triennial NAWOJ National Delegates Conference was attended by NUJ National president, Chief Chris Isiguzo, top National Officers including the Ekiti State Chairman of the union, Mr Rotimi Ojomoyele.
