ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMRADE JULIANA OSE OFOKU AS CHAIRMAN, NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), NASARAWA STATE COUNCIL

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMRADE JULIANA OSE OFOKU AS CHAIRMAN, NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), NASARAWA STATE COUNCIL
Today is a day of thanksgiving, reflection, and renewed commitment. I give all glory, honour, and adoration to Almighty God whose grace has made this day possible. Without Him, none of us would be here.
I stand before you with profound humility and a heart filled with gratitude, having been entrusted with the honour and responsibility of serving as the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council.
I sincerely thank every member of our great union for the confidence you have reposed in me. Your votes, your prayers, your encouragement, and your belief in my vision have brought us to this defining moment. I do not take this trust for granted.
I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Electoral Committee for conducting a credible and peaceful election, the outgoing Chairman and his exco for their service and contributions to our union, our past leaders whose sacrifices laid the foundation upon which we stand today, the information chapel, my DG campaign conucil Comrade Dan Yakubu, Nigeria Association of Women journalists Nasarawa State chapter, all journalists in Nasarawa State, friends of the union, my family, and every well-wisher who stood by me throughout this journey.
Today’s victory is not the victory of one individual; it is the victory of every journalist in Nasarawa State. It is a victory for unity, professionalism, hope, and a shared determination to move our union to greater heights.
To those who supported my aspiration from the beginning, I say thank you. To those who had different preferences during the election, I equally thank you. Democracy gives room for different opinions, but once the people have spoken, we must all unite behind a common purpose. From today, there will be no winners or losers. We are one family under one union, committed to one vision.
As I take this oath of office, I do so with a deep sense of responsibility. I fully understand the enormous expectations that come with this mandate. Leadership is not about power or personal recognition; it is about service, sacrifice, accountability, and the willingness to place the collective interest above personal ambition.
Throughout my years of service to the NUJ, including serving as Acting chairman,Vice Chairman and in other leadership capacities, I have learnt that the strength of our union lies in our unity, our professionalism, and our unwavering commitment to truth and public service. Those experiences have prepared me for this responsibility, and I promise to lead with integrity, fairness, transparency, and the fear of God.
Our administration shall focus on strengthening the welfare of journalists because a motivated journalist is a productive journalist. We will pursue opportunities for capacity building through regular training, workshops, and professional development programmes to ensure that our members remain relevant in the ever-changing media landscape.
We will continue to defend press freedom, uphold ethical journalism, and promote responsible reporting. We shall encourage constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders while maintaining the independence, credibility, and integrity of our profession.
We will also work to improve the infrastructure of our council, strengthen our chapels, encourage greater participation of young journalists, support women in journalism, and create an environment where every member feels valued and respected.
My administration will operate an open-door policy. Every member will have the opportunity to contribute ideas because the progress of our union depends on our collective wisdom and participation. I believe that together we can build an NUJ that every journalist in Nasarawa State will be proud to call their own.
I wish to assure His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, and the government of our readiness to maintain a cordial and professional relationship founded on mutual respect, constructive engagement, and the promotion of responsible journalism. As journalists, we shall continue to discharge our constitutional responsibility objectively, fairly, and in the overall interest of the people of Nasarawa State.
To our senior colleagues, I seek your guidance and mentorship. To our veterans, we value your wisdom and experience. To the younger generation of journalists, I encourage you to remain committed to professionalism, continuous learning, and ethical reporting. The future of journalism rests in your hands.
To my Central working Committee and State Executive Council I look forward to working with you as a united team. Let us demonstrate through our actions that leadership is about service, cooperation, and results. Together, we shall build an administration that will be remembered for unity, innovation, and meaningful achievements.
As we begin this new chapter, I call on every member to support this administration. Let us move beyond the election and embrace the greater task of building a stronger union. The challenges before us are many, but I firmly believe that together, with unity of purpose, determination, and God’s guidance, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome.
I pledge today to remain accessible, accountable, transparent, and dedicated throughout my tenure. I will listen, I will consult, and I will always strive to act in the best interest of our members and our profession.
Finally, I thank my family for their sacrifices, my friends and supporters for their steadfast encouragement, and every member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council, for giving me this rare privilege to serve.
May this new administration usher in a new era of peace, unity, progress, professionalism, and greater opportunities for every journalist in Nasarawa State.
Together, we shall build a stronger union.
Together, we shall protect the dignity of our profession.
Together, we shall write a new chapter in the history of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council.
May Almighty God grant us wisdom, strength, good health, and success as we begin this journey.
Thank you for this great honour.
May God bless the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
May God bless Nasarawa State.
And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you, and God bless you all.