The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has absolved members of another maritime journalists’ group; the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), even as it has reconciled and brought back into its fold some of its members who were sent out of the association by past administrations of the association.
In a press statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the Secretary General of MARAN; Dapo Olawuni said that these were some of the major highlights of the inauguration ceremony for the new executives at held at the MARAN Press Centre in Apapa.
According to the statement, members who were brought back into the MARAN fold includes; a former President of the association; Mr. Ray Ugochukwu who hitherto was president of MAJAN, and its Secretary, Mr. David Oladimeji.
Others are; another former President of MARAN; Mr Leye Ajayi, and Messrs Femi Orioye, Friday Odoemena and Obiajulu Agu.
Speaking at the inauguration, the new President of MARAN, Mr. Anya Njoku said that the move to bring back members of the association as well as other associations members was in fulfillment of an agreement signed by MARAN and three other associations at a meeting supervised by the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mr. Waheed Odusile.
He recalled that, at the end of that meeting which held at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa about three years ago, the four associations agreed to collapse into a single body and to adopt the name: Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).
The three other associations, whose Presidents signed the agreement included: League of Maritime Editors, MAJAN, and the Association of Maritime Journalists (AMJON).
According to Njoku, "the war is over, there is no need for bickering, the door of MARAN has equally been opened to other qualified journalists covering the maritime sector and new intending members should submit their applications"
Njoku also noted that MARAN is happy to reconcile journalists back under one umbrella in compliance to a Ministerial directive issued by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi three years ago.
The minister had noted at that time that there was need for journalists to speak with one voice.
Njoku informed that all heads of maritime agencies should take note that MARAN has now fulfilled the intentions of the Minister of Transportation.
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