Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday congratulated Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusile, who was elected as the new President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the weekend.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor commended the peaceful and democratic process that preceded his victory.
He urged Odusile to ensure that professionalism and high ethical standards are entrenched in the practice of journalism in the country.
“While I congratulate you on the singular felicity of your emergence as the NUJ President, I urge you to work assiduously to improve the professional standard for the practice of Journalism and also ensure that high ethical standards are adhered to. This is the only way to ensure credibility in journalism as the Fourth Estate of the Realm”, the Governor said.
The Governor who said that Odusile’s victory was a validation of vision, consistency and hard work, expressed confidence in his ability as the new NUJ president to take the practice of journalism to the next level in the country.
“I have watched with keen interest your manifesto and I became persuaded of your ability to take the practice of journalism to the highest level in Nigeria. I am indeed delighted at your victory at the polls”, he said.
Governor Ambode also urged him to make training and re-training of journalists a priority during his tenure, saying that Nigeria journalists should be able to stand tall among their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“Journalism practice in Nigeria should be benchmarked by what is obtainable in the profession around the globe. This is the only way to sustain the respect the profession commands around the world”, he said.
Odusile was declared winner in a keenly contested election during the National Delegates Conference/ Presidential Election of the NUJ held at the weekend in Abuja.