Matilda Omonaiye/
The League of Veteran Journalists, Ogun State Chapter, has elected renowned journalist Dele Akinsola as its pioneer chairman, ushering in a new era for retired media professionals in the state with ambitious plans to preserve Nigeria’s journalism heritage.
Akinsola emerged chairman during the league’s inaugural election held on Friday at the Olusegun Osoba Hall, Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, in a peaceful exercise supervised by an electoral committee led by Dare Folarin.
Other elected officials are Austin Elewodalu as Secretary, Stella Sawyerr as Treasurer, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, founder of Penpushing Media, as Welfare/Public Relations Officer, and Yemi Akintunde as Auditor.
The election, conducted physically and online, culminated in the immediate inauguration of the pioneer executive, which will steer the affairs of the association for the next three years.
Before the exercise, Chairman of the Steering Committee, Barrister Demola Badejo, urged members to approach the election in the spirit of unity and democracy, stressing that the process should remain peaceful and free of rancour.
Each contestant outlined their vision for the league before voting commenced, highlighting programmes aimed at strengthening the association and improving members’ welfare.
In his acceptance speech, Akinsola pledged to run an all-inclusive administration, assuring members that no one would be left behind during his tenure.
He unveiled an ambitious agenda centred on establishing a journalism museum and constructing a permanent secretariat for the league to preserve Ogun State’s rich media history.
According to him, the proposed museum will celebrate Ogun State’s status as the cradle of journalism in Nigeria while serving as a tourist attraction capable of drawing local and international visitors.
Akinsola noted that Abeokuta occupies a unique place in the country’s media history as the birthplace of Iwe Iroyin, Nigeria’s first newspaper founded in 1859 by Reverend Henry Townsend.
He announced plans to immediately set up a committee to drive the museum project and another committee to oversee the development of a hall and office complex on land donated to the league during the Veterans’ Night held last November.
The chairman expressed optimism that construction of the proposed complex could commence before the end of the year, adding that the facility would host seminars, workshops and other professional events while generating revenue for the league.
On members’ welfare, Akinsola promised programmes to support vulnerable and ageing journalists, including the possibility of monthly stipends and regular visits to elderly colleagues requiring assistance.
He also emphasised that the League of Veteran Journalists was not established to compete with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) but to complement its activities through mentorship, professional guidance and the sharing of decades of journalistic experience.
Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Dare Folarin, described the election as peaceful, transparent and a reflection of the maturity expected of veteran journalists.
He said the emergence of the pioneer executive would deepen collaboration between retired media practitioners and the Ogun State Council of the NUJ, enabling seasoned journalists to continue contributing to the growth of journalism and media professionalism.
Folarin added that the league, comprising retired public servants, media executives and accomplished journalists, would continue to provide valuable guidance and institutional memory for younger professionals.
The election is widely regarded as a major milestone in the institutional development of veteran journalists in Ogun State, providing a formal platform for experienced practitioners to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of journalism in Nigeria.
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