The outgoing Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN, Mr Afolabi Idowu with the Chairman-elect, Clara Okoro |
Okoro emerged victorious during the election which took
place at the BJAN 9th Annual General Meeting/Conference with the theme “ Media
Management in Difficult Time; Advertising, Impartiality and Regulation held at
Presken Hotel, Opebi, Lagos, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
Clara, who is a veteran broadcaster and experienced brand
writer, is the Executive Producer, Brandworld Media.
She was the vice Chairman of BJAN under Mr. Goddie Ofose’s
administration, between 2016 and 2019, where her experience helped in spurring
the association to greater heights.
In 2018, her desire to assume the leadership of BJAN as the
Chairman suffered a setback via a keenly contested election that brought in the
late Princewill Ekwujuru.
Her defeat notwithstanding, Okoro’s loyalty to the association
was not in doubt as she constantly contributed to the progress of the
association.
Amaechi Obiakpu, Olufemi Adeyemi, Adedayo Odulaja, Clara Okoro, Lukman Ishau, Melvin Udosen and Juwon Osunnuyi |
Other members elected into other various executive positions included Ayobami Lukman Ishau of Marketing Space, who emerged as the Vice Chairman. He was the immediate past General Secretary.
Others were the former assistant Secretary, Adejuwon
Osunnuyi of the Daily Bells Newspaper, emerging as the new General Secretary,
Assistant General Secretary; Adedayo Odulaja of New Telegraph, Treasurer;
Melvin Udosen of Brandessence, Financial Secretary; Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew of
Brand Icon Image and Amechi Obiakpu of ESPI News as Chief Information Officer
(CIO).
The outgoing Chairman,
Mr Afolabi Idowu lauded the BJAN members for their unflinching support
given to him especially since he took over the reigns of power about two months
ago following the death of the former Chairman, Princewill Ekwujuru.
He also thanked all the stakeholders who stood with the
association when Ekwujuru was involved in the auto accident as well as when he
eventually died.
Idowu stated that the incoming chairman had been fully
involved in the affairs of the association and would be supported to deliver on
her programmes.
He also thanked the electoral committee members for
organising a free and fair election.
In her acceptance speech, the Chairman-elect, Okoro thanked
members of the association for unanimously giving her the mandate to guide
BJAN’s course and chart ground breaking deliverables for members.
She promised to run an inclusive government as she noted
that none would be left behind.
“Three years is not a long time, so we will hit the ground
running and with all your support we will triumph over every single obstacles
and deliver the BJAN of our dreams,” she submitted.
Noting that the future looks exceedingly bright for the
association, Okoro said her administration would do everything within its
capacity to make BJAN a globally recognised IMC organisation.
The Brandworld Media executive producer, charging members to
form a formidable cohesive front to achieve the results in no distant future,
said; “This can only be achieved with the quality of the output of BJANs
content in the right spaces and the repository of our collective talents
through our writeups and electronic contents and how it is shaping thoughts and
narratives in the industry both in Nigeria.
“This is no time to play small anymore you have worked hard
to build successes for companies and by extension lives of individuals in those
organisations. You and your families can and will benefit from that success as
you deserve it.
“We will create a strategy document which would be a road
map guiding us in the short medium and long term to achieve these goals.”
While assuring that all her manifesto promises would be followed through, the new Chairman extended her appreciation to Raheem Akingbolu, Peter Jones Ailuorio, Dayo Odulaja, Goddie Ofose, Afolabi Idowu, Lukman Ishau, Adejuwon Osunnuyi and Patrick Onuoha for the roles they played behind the scene to ensure she competes and eventually emerged winner in the election.