By Frank Ulom
Comrade Archibong Bassey of NTA has been re-elected as the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council. She was re-elected along with five others during the 2025 Triennial Delegates Conference held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Council in Calabar.
The electoral committee confirmed that they were re-elected unopposed, and their tenure will last until 2028.
Other executive council members include Comrade Sunday Inah of CRBC as Vice Chairman, Comrade Michael Abang of Business Day as Secretary, Comrade Kingsley Agim of the Ministry of Information as Assistant Secretary, Comrade Achiane Adams of the Ministry of Information as Treasurer, and Benedine Tete Anam of FRCN as Auditor.
The conference was overseen by the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, who was represented by Comrade Opakah Dokubo, Vice President, Zone F, Dr Brenda Akpan, the pioneer President of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), served as the Chairperson of the conference.
Speaking, Dokubo praised the electoral process and urged the new EXCO to collaborate with members to advance the union in the state.
A legal practitioner, Barrister Olive Onah, administered the oaths of office and allegiance to the re-elected executive council members.
In a goodwill message, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, the State Commissioner for Information, commended the union’s unity in re-electing the Archibong led council.
He pledged to continue supporting the union. His words, “As the government, we will continue to support the Cross River State chapter of NUJ in every way possible. I want to thank you for your unity; being elected unopposed is commendable. I believe that one day, the State Council will become the best in the nation.”
Other notable figures, including Comrade Timothy Ogban Akwaji, the immediate past Head of Service of the State, Comrade Nsa Gill, NUJ State Chairman and currently the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Public Affairs, and Comrade Samuel Egbala, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Sports, also shared goodwill messages. They advised the new EXCO, saying, “You don’t change a winning team,” encouraging them to continue their efforts.
In her remarks, Chairwoman Comrade Bassey expressed gratitude to the members for their continued trust in her leadership. “Our first term served as a trial period. For what we did well, we will strive to improve; for what we did not accomplish as effectively, we will work harder,” she said.
Bassey called for unity among members, stating, “If I have wronged anyone in the past, please forgive me. Let’s put that behind us and move forward. I need your support. Please offer your ideas on how to advance the council rather than relying on hearsay.” She asked for the spirit of humility and love to guide her in leading the council effectively.
Reports indicate that Comrade Bassey’s EXCO was first elected on May 9, 2025, to complete the term of Comrade Gill, who was appointed Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. Additionally, Dr Patrick Ene Okon delivered a lecture on the theme, “AI: Ethical Implications for Journalism Practice in Nigeria.”
