NUJ President Emerges CAJ VP

From COSMAS CHUKWU

Despite some opposition battling to unseat the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Christopher Isiguzo, the Congress of African Journalists, CAJ has uniamousely elected him as the Vice President of the Congress,at the end of its first General Meeting held yesterday.

The Governing Council of CAJ were elected for a-three-year-term, charged to address issues affecting journalists and their organizations in Africa. Recall that Isiguzo is the President of NUJ and was elected from Enugu State Council.

Speaking after the election on behalf of the new Council,the President declared inter alia;“We extend solidarity to all journalists, media workers, and the respective media organizations in this trying moment.

The CAJ is set to be an inclusive platform to address all issues affecting journalists,media workers, editors, in their work in Africa,” said Alexandre Niyungeko, President of CAJ even as he called on“ female journalists particularly to join the Congress and to lead on a number of programs envisaged to address issues related to gender-based violence, sexual and verbal harassment, as well as online abuse and the commitments to fight specific threats facing female journalists must be reinforced”.

Leaders elected in the Governing Council included President, Alexandre Niyungeko Burundi, Vice-President, Christopher Isiguzo ,Nigeria, Secretary, William Oloo Kenya;Treasurer, Ms. Monique Kacou Côte d’Ivoire.

Others elected as members of the Governing Council were: Foster Dongozi Zimbabwe; Ibrahima Ndiaye Senegal; Ms. Idda Francis Mushi,Tanzania; Ms. Indira Correia Balde ,Guinea Bissau; and Siyabonga Dlamini ,Swaziland,. Reserve Members are Abdalle Ahmed Mumin Somalia; Ms. Patsy Athanase ,Seychelles; and Emmanuel Chibwana ,Malawi.

During the first part of the General Meeting on 20 October 2020, the Congress had adopted its constitution allowing journalists union and associations to join as full member affiliates; and other media and editors organizations as associate affiliates. “The Congress of African Journalists is open to all member unions and associations of Journalists in the African continent.”

“Other journalists organizations, editors guild, media and journalism trainers’ organizations, etc.,can be
admitted with the associate member status”.

The General Meeting, which was hosted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists ,NUJ, received a presentation from the United Nations-Office of the Special Advisor on Africa on the SDG Media Compact.

The CAJ condemns all attacks on journalists and calls for the release of all journalists out of jail. The CAJ resolves to continue to engage all Governments, the African Union, and partners to uphold press freedom, the safety of journalists, freedom of expression, among others. (UNDER NEWS CATEGORY) PLEASE