For years, journalists’ unions have been known primarily for defending press freedom, protecting professional ethics and speaking on issues affecting the media. In Kano, however, the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expanded that role.
SolaceBase reports that within one year under the leadership of Comrade Murtala Adewale, as the chapel Chairman has introduced a series of welfare, professional and institutional initiatives that are redefining what members expect from their union.
The transformation was brought into sharp focus on Monday at the chapel’s 12-Month Stewardship Presentation and Celebration held at the NUJ Secretariat in Kano.
With the theme, “Celebrating One Year of Purposeful Leadership, Accountability and Service,” the event provided an opportunity not only to celebrate the administration’s first anniversary but also to present a detailed account of programmes and reforms that have touched the lives of members while strengthening the institution they belong to.
At the heart of that transformation is an unwavering focus on members’ welfare. Presenting his one-year stewardship report, Adewale said his administration had prioritised practical interventions that directly improved the wellbeing of journalists.
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According to him, the chapel secured and disbursed N8.5 million in loan facilities to members, providing financial support for both personal and professional needs.
He added that the administration also delivered over N9.5 million in direct welfare benefits through various interventions during its first year in office.
The chairman disclosed that the chapel provided N500,000 in direct welfare assistance, with 10 members receiving N50,000 each to cushion personal challenges.
He further revealed that the leadership secured an additional N30,000 monthly welfare gesture for members, increasing the monthly support package from N30,000 to N60,000.
According to him, the union also facilitated the allocation of two Hajj slots for members, distributed Ramadan food items worth N2.5 million, and approved a N2 million medical intervention to support the treatment of a member facing serious health challenges.
Bereavement assistance was equally extended to members and their families whenever the need arose.
Yet, the administration’s vision extended beyond welfare. Rather than concentrating solely on financial assistance, the leadership also embarked on initiatives aimed at building a stronger and more resilient institution.
It established a cooperative society to enhance members’ economic well-being, introduced a Tea Break Platform to encourage regular engagement among journalists and organised a four-day annual retreat focused on professional growth and networking.
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The Chairman noted that the administration also instituted an Award of Excellence to celebrate outstanding journalists while producing a comprehensive compendium of Kano State government ministries, departments and agencies to serve as a valuable reporting resource for members.
The chapel further strengthened its internal operations by creating a welfare committee, improving communication with members and providing office tools alongside internet support to facilitate journalistic work.
Taken together, the initiatives reflected an effort to reposition the Correspondents’ Chapel as more than a professional association. Instead, the programmes projected an organisation committed to protecting the welfare of its members, promoting professional excellence and laying institutional foundations capable of serving future generations of journalists.
The significance of those achievements was not lost on stakeholders who attended the event. Representing Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, described the administration’s programmes as creative and innovative.
He singled out the cooperative society, welfare interventions and loan scheme as practical initiatives that directly addressed challenges confronting journalists, saying they reflected a leadership that understood the realities faced by media practitioners.
“The message is clear; they have been doing good things, and they should continue doing the good job they have been doing in Kano State,” Muhammad said.
He urged members of the chapel to sustain their role as a bridge between government and the governed through responsible journalism, adding that the media remains indispensable in informing citizens and supporting democratic governance.
