The President of the Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN), Pastor (Mrs) RoseMary Archibong has lauded the Cross River State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for its gender-sensitive disposition which orchestrated the emergence of a female, Comrade Archibong Bassey of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), for the first time, to lead the umbrella body of media practitioners in the state.
The IHSAN President made the commendation, recently, when she paid a congratulatory visit to the newly inaugurated executives of the Council at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar.
Archibong, a former Commissioner for Information, and Commerce in the two-term immediate past administration pointed out that the election of Comrade Archibong Bassey to occupy the plump position in the State NUJ Council aligns completely with the 2024 International Women’s Day theme “Inspire Inclusion” and serves to stimulate others to understand and value women’s inclusion and to forge a better world.
“I needed to come here in person rather than send a congratulatory message because my excitement knows no bounds.
“The Chairman’s resumé and professional career speak eloquently of the Union’s choice of her to lead them at this point in time.
“Being the first, just like myself who is IHSAN’s first female president, comes with a lot of challenges. I urge you to stay focused and lead with the fear of God and the interests of your colleagues. I enjoin the other executives to give the Chairman the best of support” she elatedly stated, assuring the leadership that “wherever you are out there, I am also with you.”
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The consummate technocrat further tasked the Bassey-led NUJ to bring her body’s professionalism to bear in the dissemination of information on the wonderful policies, programmes, activities and giant strides of the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration, saying, “Otu’s deliverables are worth reporting.”
In her response, the new Cross River NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey thanked the IHSAN President for deeming it necessary to pay the new leadership a congratulatory visit.
Speaking glowingly of her vested interest in the proper management of information in the State, the NTA ace broadcaster sought her guest’s support and wise counsel to keep her team focused.
On the effective propagation of information about the state, the NUJ leader promised that the Union would continue to uphold professional ethics as its watchword as Cross River deserves media visibility and mileage among the comity of Nigerian states.
In a vote of thanks, Florence Oluohu, another trailblazer and first female Editor-in-chief of Nigeria Chronicle Newspaper, noted that the congratulatory visit told a story of love, passion and acceptance.
She reminisced on Mrs Archibong’s stint as Commissioner for Information and Orientation, where she carried out her job creditably, albeit not a journalist. She attributed the feats recorded as Information Commissioner to passion and penchant for excellence.
“We are not surprised that you are the first to visit the new NUJ leadership. We thank you for being the first to do so.
“We believe that the NUJ would be better off with Archibong Bassey at the helm of affairs,” she concluded.