Lagos: The Executives of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Monday paid a congratulatory visit to the newly appointed Head of Lagos Operations (HLO) of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole. They hailed her elevation as a triumph of merit, resilience, and professional excellence.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Omowole, a former President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), was until her appointment the Head of NAN Lagos Editorial Department – a role in which she earned widespread acclaim for discipline, mentorship, and newsroom leadership. Leading the delegation to NAN Lagos office, the NUJ Deputy National President, Dr. Abimbola Oyetunde, described Omowole’s appointment as both ‘well-deserved’ and symbolic of the rewards of steadfast commitment to journalism and union service.
Oyetunde remarked that the news of Omowole’s appointment as Director and now Head of NAN Lagos was met with elation. She praised Omowole not only for her accomplishments as a woman in journalism but also for her diligence, competence, and consistency. Oyetunde emphasized Omowole’s influence as a mentor whose impact extended beyond the newsroom, highlighting her role in nurturing the next generation of journalists.
In her response, Omowole expressed gratitude to the NUJ leadership, describing the visit as both an honor and a humbling experience. Reflecting on her journey through NAN’s editorial ranks, she commended the agency’s Managing Director, Mr. Ali Muhammad Ali, for implementing structural reforms that expanded career progression opportunities. She noted that the decision to promote four staff members to Level 17 was a significant achievement that broke longstanding barriers.
Omowole called for stronger grassroots engagement by the NUJ national leadership, urging that every chapel across the state should feel the presence and impact of the union’s central body. She also praised the NUJ-NAN Lagos Chapel for fostering dialogue, unity, and prioritizing members’ welfare, reaffirming her commitment to ethical journalism and deeper collaboration between NAN and the union.
Earlier, Chairman of the NUJ-NAN Lagos Chapel, Mr. Yusuf Yunus, described the visit as a morale booster and a powerful gesture of solidarity at a defining moment in Omowole’s career. Yunus advocated for more consistent engagement by the national leadership at the chapel level, stressing that sustained interaction would strengthen unity, improve communication, and reinforce bonds between the union’s grassroots members and its national structure.
The delegation included the Special Adviser to the NUJ President, Adeola Ekini; Special Assistant to the National Deputy National President, Wahab Akinlade; the NAWOJ Chairperson, Jumoke Johnson; Personal Assistant to the NUJ Deputy National President, Eunice Olile; and Former Vice-Chairman B Zone, Mrs. Julie Ekong.