The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Abia chapter, on Monday elected a new executive committee (EXCO) to pilot the affairs of the body for the next three years.


The six-member Exco has Josephine Ogwo of the state Ministry of Information Chapel as the Chairperson, while Nora Okafor of Modern Communications Ltd., emerged as the Vice.


Others were Sally Anyaso of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) (Secretary), Juilet Onyebuchi of the Federal Information (Ass. Secretary ), Kate Emeka of the state Information Chapel (Fin. Secretary) and Nkechi Onuoha also of BCA (Treasurer).

A Senior Counsel in the state Ministry of Justice, Mr John Ifereobasi, administered the Oath of Office on them.In a brief remark, Ifereobasi advised those in authority to shun impunity, saying that it was wrong for any leader to impose an executive on an association.

He further advised that the Constitution of any association be duly respected to avoid anarchy. The ceremony was witnessed by two other legal practitioners in the state, Messrs Gloria Chukwueke and Chinenye Afunwa.

Earlier in a remark, the Chairperson of the Credentials Screening Committee of the association, Nkasi Akoma, said that the new Exco was inaugurated in line with the resolution of the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of NAWOJ in Asaba.

Akoma, represented by the Secretary, Abia Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adaeze Igbokwe, said that NEC mandated Abia NAWOJ to conduct election for a new EXCO before the next NEC meeting.

In a remark, the outgone Chairperson, Beatrice Odoemelam thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the election.
Odoemelam warned against any act capable of causing crisis in Abia NAWOJ, saying that the chapter had always been known for peace.

According to her, we followed due process and were properly guided by the Constitution of NAWOJ in conducting the election.
In separate speeches, the immediate past officials, Henrietta Ashikodi, Ifeyinwa Abiakam and an official of

Abia NUJ, Chibuzor Maduka-Iroh, warned against any attempt that could truncate the peace enjoyed in Abia NAWOJ.

The group vowed to remain united, in spite of an alleged attempt to create disunity and factions in the chapter.
In an acceptance speech, the new chairperson, Ogwo, thanked members for finding them worthy to serve the association.

She pledged to run an open door policy, saying that her EXCO would strive to carry every member along in the scheme of things. She urged practicing female journalists in the state to formally register in the association.

She contended that “being a member of NUJ does not automatically qualify one as a member of NAWOJ”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abia NAWOJ was recently thrown into crisis after the national leadership of the association dissolved the state EXCO and Akoma-led committee already set up to conduct the election.  Into their place, the National Secretariat appointed a seven-member Caretake Committee, allegedly headed by a non-registered NAWOJ member, Oluchi Lechi-Ikechukwu.
The committee was mandated to run the affairs of the association and conduct election for a new EXCO in seven months.