[dropcap type=”1″]M[/dropcap]aritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (AMJON), the new umbrella body of all maritime journalists took a bold step  today with the election of its executive council, in  a successful election held in Apapa Lagos.

The formation which is coming years after several failed interventions by well-meaning stakeholders, met with positive resolve following the advice of the Minister of Transportation on the need to show example, through conducts that promotes integrity and professionalism

Representatives of maritime organizations drawn from the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council and National Association of Govt. Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Commissioner of Police, Ports,   amongst others were in attendance to observe the elections.

At the end of the election, Ismail Aniemu of The Journal emerged President; Paul Ogbokiri of New Telegraph, Vice President; Clementine Okonye of COOL /WAZOBIA FM, secretary General; and Innocent Orok of This Page Newspaper, Treasurer.

Others are Femi Orioye of OGBC FM, Financial Secretary;  Kelvin  Igho kagbare-Maritime Nigeria, Public relations officer;  Uche Usim of Daily Sun Newspapers, Provost 1 and Stan Okenwa of Champion Newspaper, Assistant Secretary General.

Those who clinched the Board of Trustees, BOT, are Asu Beks-Chairman, Ubon Akpan , Friday Odemena and Eguono Odjegba are members.

In his acceptance address, Aniemu on behalf of his executives described the formation of AMJON and the elections as victory for maritime journalism and practitioners. He said AMJON doors are wide open to accommodate all true maritime journalists.

He said the exco’s cardinal programme is to grow members reportorial capacity, enhance professional image including building strong bridges of industry relationship aimed at elevating the capacity of AMJON members without compromising the ethics and universal principles of journalism practice.

“Our doors are wide open to accommodate everybody, including those still sitting on the fence. AMJON is the destination. We are uniting all maritime journalists. The period of professional truancy and beggarly behavior is over. we consider it a privilege to be elected leaders in AMJON, the truth is, we are merely first amongst equals.

“The focus of this administration is to push for professional modern capacity building that aide us in doing our jobs better and faster. For obvious reasons we are not getting the desired attention for reasons we cannot conjecture.The time has come when we must build strong bridges of friendship across the industry. This is only possible by sincere collaboration with an improved turn around relationship with agencies of government and other stakeholders.”

For obvious reasons we are not getting the desired attention for reasons we cannot conjecture.

“Let me inform us at this juncture that AMJON will synergize and collaborate with government but we shall not compromise our primary role as watchdogs of society. Journalism is not an opposition party, it is a public service driven by commitment to safe guard our corporate image as a nation, while carrying out the job of information dissemination and constructive criticism. We don’t exist to run institutions down; we exist to make them function better”.

Observers who lauded the emergence of the united maritime journalists, described the conduct of the election as very peaceful and transparent. One after the other, they expressed hope that all maritime journalists will come onboard AMJON, which they believe will raise the corporate image, not only of practitioners but the maritime  industry as a whole.

Kelvin Kagbare
Public Relations Officer,
Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria, AMJON.