Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
A notable media entrepreneur and publisher Sahara Weekly, Mr Femi Oyewale, has assumed office as the President of National Association of Online Security Reporters (NAOSRE).
Mr Oyewale was elected leader of the association at a peaceful election held in Lagos on October 29, 2020. He was chosen by members to take over from the immediate past President of the group, Mrs Favour Benson.
On Thursday, November 12, 2020, Mr Oyewale was sworn-in for the new position after taking an oath of office along with the other members of the executives elected last month.
Others sworn-in yesterday were the Vice President, Mrs Love Oyedokun; the Secretary, Dayo Bamgbala; the Financial Secretary, Mrs Azuh Lilian; the Registrar, Mr Gbenga Shaba; the Treasurer, Mr Adetogun Olakunle; the Provost, Mr Edwin Usoboh; the Welfare Officer, Abiona Adenike; the Online Director, Abayomi Obatinuadeyo; and the Public Relations Officer, Idumonza Isidahomhen.
Speaking after he was administered with the oath of office, Mr Oyewale thanked the members for putting their trust in him, promising to be transparent in the running of affairs of the association and be accountable.
“To our members, I will operate an open-door policy and serve as a servant leader,” he assured.
He rationalised the strategic importance of NAOSRE as a partner in the promotion of the spirit and letters of Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which unequivocally provides for every citizen to live a secured life within Nigeria’s approximately 923,768 sq km landmass.
“As a foremost association that parades the finest hands in security reporting, NAOSRE will play its professional role in Nigeria’s defence and security mechanism,” he said.
He, however, urged members to rededicate themselves to objective security journalism in line with the set mission of NAOSRE, especially at these challenging times.
Continuing, the new president congratulated the Lagos Police Command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Muyiwa Adejobi, who marked his birthday on November 11.
“Muyiwa and Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu are credible security officers I have come across in recent time,” he stated.
Before the handover, the immediate past president of the association thanked members and excos for the supports extended to her tenure which resulted into some landmark achievements especially in the area of increased membership and a successful election of the new executives.
“I thank you all for supporting me to pilot this association at a most challenging time. I urge you to extend the same supports to the new leadership,” she said.
Chairman Board of Trustees of NAOSRE, Mr Shola Adeyemo, took members and guests down memory lane on the conceptualization of the online security union early 2020 and submitted that, “It has been a tortuous task nursing and nurturing a baby association.”
“But I have no doubt in my mind that NAOSRE has come to stay and it would continue to play its frontline role in the promotion of balanced information for a safer Nigeria,” he assured.
The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists represented by its Vice president, Mr Israel Bolaji, and a team of CMC media group led by Mr Cornell Udofia, described NAOSRE’s outgoing and incoming executives as credible persons in the media industry whose credentials are a welcome addition to Nigeria’s security media space.
