In a bid to fulfill one of the campaign promises he made to the members before the election, the new Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ)Ondo state Chapter, Comrade Leke Adegbite yesterday held an Easter Fiesta for his members at the NUJ press center, behind Adegbemile, Akure the state capital.
Adegbite noted that he had promised to make the press center and his members enjoy every bit of holidays they have and that the press center will also be back to life, he added that the Fiesta will not be the last as there will be calenderised social events to make the members, their friends and spouses while away the stress and pressure of work.
“We still have other things to do, like free medical check up and will be coming up soon for our members. All these are targeted to make the lives of our members more meaningful and to create time for relaxation as we don’t really have time for that in our profession. We have started like this and it will always come up anytime we have holiday, our members will be more relaxed from the stress of journalism. It will be a continous process either during Muslim’s or Christain’s festive periods”.
“We chose to collaborate with Cross River states indegines for the Easter Fiesta because NUJ bar/canteen Manager is an indegine of the state and also the president of the association in Ondo State and since their members patronize the press center more than any other group, we dimmed it fit to partner with them and put them on the platform to enjoy themselves during this holiday”.
One of the members of the union, Mr Peter Dada of the Punch newspaper, who expressed his happiness described the event as a very colourful one, he added that it was an avenue for the members to come together, celebrate the Easter and enjoy themselves.
While applauding the new leadership of the union for organizing such activity, he advised them to continue to be focused, change the phase of the union, do what they have been sent to do and make the union grow.
Also, Mrs Yinka Oluwatuyi, a former staff of The Hope newspaper said that the event was a welcome development as the new chairman is bringing life into the center.
Her words “for us to have experienced this today, I know he’s bringing life back to the press center, the center has been down, for him to have organized something like this during Easter, despite being a Muslim, then something good is coming our way”.
Oluwatuyi implored the members to always come around, they shouldn’t wait till election time or when there’s crisis, they should support the new leadership. She also advised the new chairman to extend his hands of fellowship to all the media houses and use his power to help every members.
Mr Kunle Ajibogun, the publisher of Newsnose online newspaper described the event as a sign of new beginning. “This leadership is a good one and I want to say it here that the Leadership of Comrade Leke Adegbite will bring joy and happiness to all the members of NUJ in Ondo State. I advise him to keep it up, make the event monthly so that all members will be coming together to celebrate themselves and relax.”