MANIFESTO OF RUTH ABUBAKAR, PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT OF THE NIGERIA ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JOURNALISTS (NAWOJ), DURING THE 2020 NATIONAL TRIENNIAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE.
INTRODUCTION
Leadership is an indispensable ingredient in any organization, including the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ). The Leadership implement programmes and take decisions to guide the operation and success of an organization. There are different kinds of leadership, but a transforming leader is one who is proactive, selfless, passionate and honest about the overall success of the organization and the welfare of members, bearing in mind that privilege comes with responsibilities.
As we are on the verge of electing new leaders at the forthcoming Triennial National Delegates Conference of our great Association, (NAWOJ), we absolutely need a leadership that is positive and committed to upgrade and promote, the Association in line with the vision of its founders.
WHY I SEEK TO BE NAWOJ NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Journalism, like any other profession is facing a lot of challenges globally and as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, NAWOJ is not spared from these challenges. Successive leaderships of the Association, including the outgoing one has made concerted effort towards addressing some of the challenges but a lot still needs to be done in some areas.
Therefore, I, Ruth Abubakar, a two-term Vice President of Zone E and Presidential aspirant of NAWOJ, intends to bring a paradigm shift that will eventually propel the Association to the next level of development.
Over the years, I have garnered much experience in unionism, having been actively involved in the activities of NAWOJ and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), as Secretary, Information Chapel in Gombe Council; pioneer Chairperson of NAWOJ Gombe council; and two-term Vice President of NAWOJ Zone E (North East), among other ad-hoc duties.
With the wealth of experience l gained during these period, I am optimistic that l can efficiently pilot the affairs of NAWOJ as National President with your support. During the voyage at various positions aforementioned, I understudied several past leaders and have understood the burden of leadership and how to sail to the shore of accomplishing any task with confidence, by the grace of God.
If voted into office, my administration will respect and guarantee the rights and privileges of members to pave a way for their self-actualization; add value to the system and toe the path and ethos of organizational management in line with professional best practices.
I intend to make NAWOJ stronger, giving recognition to our decision making structures such as the Central Working Committee (CWC) and the National Executive Council (NEC) and to give the state Chairperson’s the right treatment they deserve through regular hosting of meetings, with a view to improving the integrity of NAWOJ in the country.
MY AGENDA
• ACCOUNTABILITY
Great NAWOJIANS, transparency and accountability shall be our watchwords. We shall be guided by the provisions of the Constitution in all our affairs and ensure the supremacy of the document in providing necessary guide to leadership, and also to carry every member along. Vice president, Zonal secretaries, state chairpersons and other stakeholders, will be allowed to make their contribution towards the progress of NAWOJ. Thus, we shall ensure probity and accountability in all our dealings, if given the mandate to serve.
• PARTNERSHIPS
We shall explore all windows of opportunities for sustainable partnership with local and international development partners to advance the cause of NAWOJ and the spectrum of the womenfolk in Nigeria. We shall constructively engage with the partners to promote, protect women and child’s rights as well as promote the education of the girl child, good health and economic empowerment of women in line with African and international resolutions.
• EQUALITY
We shall ensure equality, justice and fairness in discharging our responsibility as well as to deliver to our members the quality of good leadership at all times.
• TRAINING
Trainings and retraining will be given attention for our members to perform their professional responsibilities in line with the ethics of the profession.
We shall collaborate with government and non-governmental organizations to organize special training for our members to constantly keep them refreshed on the demands of ethical journalism practices, and further equip and empower them to fully overcome the challenging dynamics of journalism practice, especially as it affects women journalists in Nigeria.
PROFESSIONAL BEST PRACTICES
We shall ensure that we restore the integrity of NAWOJ by encouraging members to conform to the ethics of the profession and the Constitution of our great union (NUJ) at all times, in line with professional best practices.
Similarly, while assuring of the protection of the welfare of our members, we will also ensure that our members are financially up to date in payment of their check off dues which is the only means of generating revenue by our mother union.
• ADVOCACIES
As mothers and female journalists, we shall raise our voices through advocacies for the betterment of the lives of our women and children, with special attention to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and orphans,addressing issues of Girl child education, Rape, kidnapping, sexual abuse and other social vices that hinders the growth, development and well being of women folks in the country.
• STRENGTHENING OF ZONAL OFFICES
We shall evolve mechanisms and strategies aimed at strengthening our zonal offices to make them better and more functional for the effective discharge of their roles within the zones.
• FORUM OF PAST NAWOJ PRESIDENTS
We all know that experience is believed to be the best teacher. Therefore, we intend to create a forum for past Presidents of NAWOJ as a deliberate effort to bring them together periodically, so as to tap from their wealth of experiences in our quest to move the association forward.
• LIAISON WITH NUJ
As an affiliate of the NUJ, we shall maintain a cordial and harmonious working relationship with our umbrella body, NUJ. We shall strengthen our partnership and sustain our allegiance to the NUJ so that we achieve greater success for the common good of our members. We will equally consult and seek for advice from NUJ on all collaboration (s) between us and all development partners and donor agencies.
• ACTIVISM
We shall campaign vigorously for the protection of women, girls from Sexual harassment and Gender Based Violence, etc, and advocate for severe sanctions to be meted out to rapists and others who perpetrate these heinous acts.
• NAWOJ SECRETARIAT
As we all know, NAWOJ has no National Secretariat or office space for its administrative purposes in Abuja. So if voted into office, we shall either liaise with NUJ to be allocated a part of the National Secretariat to enable us create our own Secretariat, or in the alternative, vigorously pursue to acquire a parcel of land in Abuja to build a befitting secretariat for our great association.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, vision, integrity, honesty and sincerity are the major ingredients of leadership. Having been tested and trusted in different spheres of my unionism and work life, I promise to display those leadership virtues in my administration.
I have strength of character and tenacity of purpose to serve NAWOJ and my colleagues as National President. Therefore, I humbly urge Great NAWOJIANS, to rise in my support and cast your votes for me to emerge as the next National President of NAWOJ.
Ours would be a call to service in a just, sincere and transparent manner.
A vote for RUTH ABUBAKAR is certainly a vote to move NAWOJ forward.
Vote wisely.
RUTH ABUBAKAR
FOR NAWOJ NATIONAL PRESIDENT
She’s a great mother and a beautiful hearted human. I want to encourage every Nigerian to come out and let’s take this great mother and a selfless leader to the top. God bless you ma.
May Allah swt make it easy and acceptable for us. Carry go my president in the making