News
FCT NUJ Election: Grace Ike Kicks Off Campaign, Promises To Empower Journalists+PHOTOS
…assures of insurance cover for journalists, to establish journalists’ village
…as over 100 journalists’ eyes checked, receive eye-glass, medications
By Gloria Ikibah
The sole candidate for chairmanship position in the December 4, 2024, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Council election, Comrade Grace Ike, has flagged off her campaign, promising to ensure journalists are empowered and have a sense of belonging.
Comrade Ike who also flagged off the campaign with free eye checks and treatments at the NUJ FCT Secretariat in Abuja, on Sunday, said it is the time for a paradigm shift from what is known over the years of the Council and called for all journalists in the FCT to join hands with her to make the long expected change a reality and ensure they are stakeholders and their voices heard in the policies, programmes and projects that her administration would be executing.
Naijablitznews.com reports that after 32 years of the commencment of the Council, Comrade Ike will be the first ever female FCT NUJ Council Chairman come December 4, 2024.
Recall that Ike was the only candidate who was cleared by the credentials committee and declared elected by the NUJ National.
She is the immediate past Chairperson of the House of Representatives Press Corps, and immediate past Vice Chairmen of the NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, which position her well to take over the leadership of the NUJ FCT Council.
Meanwhile, she has received massive endorsements from former chairmen of the NUJ FCT Council including a former national president of National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, ahead of the election.
Respected stakeholders present include former Chairmen, Comrade Amos Duniya, Comrade Abdul Jelil, Comrade Paul Ella Abechi, Comrade Malachi Ozendu, Former National President of NAWOJ, Comrade Evelyn Onyilo, anf Comrade Moji Danisa amongst others.
Over 100 journalists had their eyes checked and given reading glasses and medications as the campaign is being flagged off.
She said in an emotion laden address: “Today, we embark on a journey filled with purpose, passion, and a vision to redefine our beloved Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council. This moment is more than a campaign—it is the birth of a movement driven by unity, innovation, and the collective dream of a stronger, more empowered union. With humility, determination, and a heart ready to serve, I stand before you to officially flag off my campaign to become the first female Chairman of our council.
“This campaign is not about mere slogans; it is about One Voice—a clarion call for a New Era. It is about standing together on the pillars of Accountability, Transparency, Accelerated Development, Capacity Building, Innovation, Improved Welfare, and Empowerment for All. These are the building blocks of the brighter future we all envision.
“As journalists, we are the guardians of truth, the voices of the voiceless, and the watchdogs of society. But how can we effectively carry out this noble duty if our own well-being is neglected? Today, as part of this flag-off, we have organized a One-Day Free Eye Check—a symbol of my unwavering commitment to your welfare and a reminder that the strength of our union lies in the health and happiness of its members.
“Over the past 16 years, I have walked this journey with you—on the streets, in the press-rooms, and through the corridors of power.
“My years as a legislative reporter covering the House of Representatives, as Chairperson of the House Press Corps, and as Vice Chair of the Correspondents’ Chapel have prepared me to lead with courage, inclusivity, and innovation. I have championed fairness, ethical journalism, and gender equity, and I am ready to bring these values to the forefront of our council.
“But let me be clear—this is not just about me; it is about us. It is about the stories we tell, the challenges we face, and the victories we will achieve together. In the days ahead, you will hear from me and my team more often than you ever thought possible. We will disturb your timelines on social media with our program of action.
“We will fill your phones with messages that outline our mission and vision. We will visit our chapels armed with messages of hope and plans for progress. And yes, we ask for your patience and your support because this is all for our collective good.
“Our mission is simple but profound: to break barriers, uplift every member, and create a council that stands as a beacon of excellence in the journalism profession.
“Together, we will address welfare gaps, invest in modern capacity-building programs, and empower every journalist in the FCT Council to thrive in this ever-evolving media landscape. We will also ensure every journalists in FCT have insurance cover as they go about their job, and we will establish journalists’ village in the FCT for journalists, where they will have different things that has to do with their job. This village would be equipped for capacity building equipment, also for relaxation, sports, hotel accommodation, and conferences, and other facilities.”
However, Ike went philosophical quoting the words of Maya Angelou; “Nothing will work unless you do.”
She also assured that, “My team and I are ready to work, to listen, and to lead. But we cannot do it without you.”
“This campaign is a partnership, a collective endeavor to write the next chapter of our council’s history—a chapter filled with progress, unity, and purpose.
“So today, I urge you to join hands with me as we take bold steps into this New Era. Let us build a union where no journalist is left behind, where our voices are stronger together, and where our shared legacy inspires generations to come.”
In her conclusion, she declared, “With pride, passion, and a heart full of hope, I hereby declare the campaign for the NUJ FCT Council Chairmanship officially flagged off.”
By Gloria Ikibah
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Grace Ike, has charged newly elected executive members to prioritise journalists’ welfare and uphold values of accountability, integrity, and professionalism.
Speaking after the swearing-in of the new officers on Saturday, Comrade Ike reminded them that service in the union demands unity, transparency, and a firm commitment to ethical journalism.
“This union stands on the pillars of welfare, integrity and professionalism. You have been chosen to serve, not to be served,” she said.
The by-election, held to fill three vacant positions unoccupied since the last NUJ-FCT elections on December 4, 2024, saw 54 accredited members cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere.
Comrade Sharon Emephia of the Correspondents Chapel emerged as Assistant Secretary with 52 votes, while Comrade Daniel Henry Abimiku from the Information Chapel secured the Financial Secretary position with 52 votes as well, and Comrade Ukoko-Tega of Aso Radio/TV Chapel was elected Internal Auditor, also polling 52 votes. A few ballots were declared invalid in each category.
Chairperson of the election committee and Chairman of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Bassey Ita Ikpang, announced the results alongside committee members Comrade Tony Akowe and Comrade Nkechi Onyeneke. The winners were administered the oath of office by Barrister Ehidiamen Isibor and issued certificates of return.
Comrade Ike commended the electoral committee for conducting a transparent process and thanked union members for their active participation. She officially dissolved the committee following the successful completion of its assignment.
The current leadership of the NUJ-FCT also includes Vice Chairman Comrade Ndambabo Yahaya, Secretary Comrade Jide Oyekunle, Treasurer Mrs. Sandra Udeike, and Ex-Officio member Comrade Ebriku John Friday.
Catholicism has rarely been more prominent in US politics as the Trump administration openly embraces advisers and officials who proudly say faith has shaped their politics.
But any jubilation on the American Make America Great Again right about the new Pope this week quickly dissipated as key voices from Donald Trump’s Maga movement came to a disappointed conclusion: the first American Pope does not appear to be “America first”.
Little is known about the political leanings of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago.
He has voiced concerns for the poor and immigrants, chosen a name that may reference more liberal church leadership, and he appears to have both supported the liberal-leaning Pope Francis and criticised the US president’s policies on social media.
But the president so far has said only that Leo’s election was a “great honour” for the US. Still, some of Trump’s most prominent supporters were quick to attack Pope Leo, lambasting him as a possible challenge to Trump and on the perception that he will follow Pope Francis in areas like immigration.
“I mean it’s kind of jaw-dropping,” Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon told the BBC on Friday, speaking of Leo’s election.
“It is shocking to me that a guy could be selected to be the Pope that had had the Twitter feed and the statements he’s had against American senior politicians,” said Bannon, a hard-right Trump loyalist, practising Catholic and former altar boy.
And he predicted that there’s “definitely going to be friction” between Leo and Trump.
The Pope’s brother, John Prevost, told The New York Times that he thinks his brother would voice his disagreements with the president.
“I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration,” he said. “I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”
Recent survey data shows that about 20% of Americans identify as Catholic, according to the non-partisan Pew Research Center.
About 53% identify with or lean towards the Republican Party, though there’s plenty of nuance, too: America’s two Catholic presidents, John F Kennedy and Joe Biden, were both Democrats. And nearly two-thirds of US Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances – a departure from the Church’s current stance.
US Catholics also broadly supported Pope Francis: 78% of those surveyed in February viewed him favorably, including a majority of Catholic Republicans.
A number of Catholics In the new Pope’s home city of Chicago, on Thursday, aired disappointment with President Trump and said they hoped Pope Leo XIV would follow the path of his predecessor.
“We hope he’ll continue with Francis’s agenda going forward,” said Rick Stevens, a Catholic deacon from New Jersey who happened to be visiting Chicago when he heard the news.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which leads and coordinates US Catholic activities, celebrated Pope Leo’s election and the message it sends.
“Certainly, we rejoice that a son of this nation has been chosen by the cardinals, but we recognise that he now belongs to all Catholics and to all people of good will,” the conference said in a statement. “His words advocating peace, unity, and missionary activity already indicate a path forward.”
Though Maga supporters represent a small subset of US Catholics, it’s one with outsized access to conservative media and Trump’s ear.
On Bannon’s War Room podcast – known for its hard-right, pro-Trump bent – one guest after another heaped criticism on the new Pope.
“This guy has been massively embraced by the liberals and the progressives,” said Ben Harnwell, a journalist who led Bannon’s efforts to establish what he calls a “gladiator school” for the “Judeo-Christian West” outside of Rome.
“He is one of their own… he has [Pope] Francis’s DNA in him,” Harnwell said.
Jack Posobiec, another Maga commentator dialing in from Rome, was blunt: “This choice of the American cardinal was done as a response, as a message to President Trump.”
The full picture of what led to Pope Leo’s selection on Thursday is still emerging and church decisions don’t map neatly onto US politics. Still, watchers around the world have pored over Pope Leo’s social media profiles in search of clues about his leanings and beliefs.
An X account under his name, with tweets going as far back as 2015, shares links to criticism of Trump’s approach to immigration and hints at other political views, such as stricter gun control.
In February, the account sharply rebuked the US vice-president by posting a link to an opinion piece titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others”.
The account also posted a link to a letter from Pope Francis after he clashed with Vance over church doctrine and immigration. Vance – a Catholic convert – had given an interview in defence of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Vance has routinely invoked his faith in defense of the administration, particularly immigration policies, which the White House has said put “America first”.
“There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbour, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritise the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that,” Vance told Fox News.
But US Democrats were not spared either on the account, which has more than a decade of posts. They appear to support Catholic employers who refuse to pay for contraceptives via employee health plans, and following the 2016 US presidential election, one post links to an article accusing Democrat Hillary Clinton of ignoring pro-life Catholic voters.
The BBC asked the Vatican to confirm the account was Leo’s, but did not receive a response.
Vice-President Vance told conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitt on Friday: “I try not to play the politicisation of the Pope game.
“I’m sure he’s going to say a lot of things that I love. I’m sure he’ll say some things that I disagree with, but I’ll continue to pray for him and the Church despite it all and through it all, and that’ll be the way that I handle it.”
The new Pope’s LGBTQ views are also unclear, but some groups, including the conservative College of Cardinals, believe he may be less supportive than Pope Francis.
Matt Walsh, a commentator with the conservative Daily Wire, wrote: “There are some good signs and bad signs with this new Pope. I want to see what he actually does with his papacy before I pass any kind of judgment.”
But some of the most dedicated Maga supporters already have made up their minds.
Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer who has Trump’s ear, swaying the president on top personnel decisions, called the new Pope “anti-Trump, anti-Maga, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis”.
Bannon, who had suggested Leo as a dark horse for the papacy, predicted tensions between the White House and Vatican – and said they could even tear apart American Catholics.
“Remember, President Trump was not shy about taking a shot at Pope Francis,” he said.
“So if this Pope – which he will do – tries to come between President Trump and his implementation of the mass deportation programme, I would stand by.” BBC
By Gloria Ikibah
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, has stressed the urgent need for the Nigerian Parliament to adopt digital technology, describing it as a necessity in today’s world rather than a choice.
Ogunlana made the remark during his opening address at a three-day retreat organised by the National Assembly in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC). The event, which began on Friday, was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and held under the theme “Building an Accountable, Transparent and Resilient Parliament: The Role of the National Assembly Top Management.”
According to him, “the use of technology in the Nigerian Parliament is not an option but a necessity,” especially as legislative processes around the world are becoming increasingly digital.
He pointed out that the retreat’s theme directly addresses the ongoing shifts and demands within the National Assembly, offering a critical moment to rethink approaches, plan strategically, and implement meaningful reforms.
“This presents a vital opportunity to reflect, strategize, and lay actionable plans that will shape the future of the National Assembly Service,” Ogunlana stated.
-
Education12 hours agoTeenage girl drag JAMB to court over alleged hijab ban during UTME
-
News10 hours agoDefections: It’s a massive betrayal against NNPP -Kwankwaso cries out
-
News15 hours agoTInubu admits taking tough decisions to enable Nigeria grow
-
News15 hours agoCourt orders blood transfusion for two-year-old girl despite her parents’ objections
-
News15 hours agoWhy I Issued ‘Mock’ Apology To Akpabio – Natasha
-
News14 hours agoIntroducing Ebule Oritsemeyiwa, a 16-yr-old who scored 334 in 2025 UTME
-
News5 hours agoHow doctor stole one of my twins during birth, Abuja housewife narrates nasty experience
-
News15 hours agoBritish-Nigerian art expert pleads guilty to terrorism financing