NUJ Commends Nigeria’s Presidency of AMJA  

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the emergence of a Nigerian as the President of African Maritime Journalists Association (AMJA).
The commendation of NUJ was conveyed by its President; Mr Waheed Odusile, who hailed the AMJA President for flying the flag of Nigeria among maritime media practitioners in Africa.
Mr Odusile spoke ahead of the formal inauguration of the Executive Committee of the continental body on November 10, 2016 in Lagos.
He expressed the readiness of the national leadership of NUJ to attend the historic event, which will also draw dignitaries and maritime industry stakeholders from across the African continent to Nigeria.
''I am happy about this as a Nigerian and as the President of NUJ. I have no doubt that you will succeed. ASs the President of African Journalists Association, I a fair idea of the challenges ahead of you, but I am sure that you will succeed. It’s a thing of joy, I am about this, I will attend the ceremony'', he was quoted as saying.
In a  press release  issued in Lagos and signed personally by President of AMJA; Mr Sesan Onileimo , the association also confirmed that, the Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi will be leading government functionaries to the event, which holds on November 10, 2016 in Apapa; the hub of maritime activities in Nigeria. The official delegation from Nigeria includes heads of maritime agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Regional and global maritime bodies, such as the African Union, ECOWAS, the Port Management   Association of West and Central Africa (PMWCA) as well as the Port Management Association for Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA) have all confirmed their presence at the event.
Also being expected are other agencies that operate within the nation’s maritime sector, as well as members of the organised private sector and other players.
The statement confirmed that, the Minister will also inaugurate the four-member executive committee of the association.
Other members of the executive committee are: Vice President – South Africa; Ms. Colleen Jacka, General Secretary – Kenya; Mr. George Sunguh and Treasurer – Ghana; Ms. Grace Nana Esi Boateng.
 ‘’We also have assurances of the presence of the President of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ); Mr Waheed Odusile ‘’, he disclosed in the statement.
According to him, the African Maritime Journalists Association is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, open to all practicing maritime media journalists based in Africa. Its emergence is one of the outcomes of the maiden Africa Maritime Journalists Conference (AMJOC), which held in January this year in Accra – Ghana.
‘’AMJA’s primary focus is to encourage maritime journalists/content owners to engage more in developmental and community reporting or broadcast of maritime news from the continent’s perspective. Therefore, it is our desire to work closely with organizations and Governments to raise awareness and promote increased local participation in the industry, for the benefit of our nationals’’.
He added that, ‘’part of the association’s objectives is to promote increased co-operation and collaboration between African countries, especially in the area of cross-border trade and logistics’’.
Nigeria hosts the Secretariat of the Association.