The Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria, EWAN, a body of journalists drawn from the print, broadcast, and online mediums, who specialise in reporting issues around the education sector in the country, has elected new executive committee members to steer its affairs for the next three years.
The election, which was conducted on Thursday, 19th December 2024 during the association’s Annual General Meeting, AGM at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos, was supervised by the electoral committee chaired by Mr. Sam Nzeh, an editor with Daily Times Newspapers.
The electoral committee also had a former education editor at The Nation Newspaper, Adegunle Olugbamila, as a member, while Medinat Kanabe of the Voice of Naija news platform was the secretary.
At the end of the election, the Head of the Development Desk at PREMIUM TIMES, Mojeed Alabi, was re-elected as chairman of the association while the Education Editor of Guardian Newspaper, Iyabo Lawal, emerged as the vice chairperson.
Funmi Ogundare of ThisDay Newspaper, and a newly appointed Managing Editor of DevReporting, a development-focused news platform, Christiana Alabi-Akande, were elected as secretary and assistant secretary.
Other members of the new executive committee include a senior staffer of Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Tayo Olorunyomi (treasurer); Saidat Alausa of Brand Visibility (financial secretary), and Oyeniran Apata of Daily Independent Newspapers as welfare officer.
Delivering his acceptance speech, the re-elected chairman expressed his profound gratitude to the outgoing executive committee for their dedication and to the members of the association for entrusting him and his team with another term.
He noted that the decision to re-elect him reflects the association’s confidence in its leadership and a call to continue the important work of moving the organisation forward while impacting the education sector towards reclaiming its lost glory.
“It is often said that the reward for hard work is more work. I believe this aptly captures the decision of our esteemed editors and members who have returned us to the ring for another three years of service. It is both an honour and a challenge that we wholeheartedly embrace,” Mr. Alabi stated.
The chairman emphasised the association’s need to focus on impactful interventions in the nation’s education sector. He reaffirmed the new executive committee’s commitment to upholding quality reporting and prioritising advocacy as a tool for driving change in the education sector.
According to him, the association will strive to reclaim the lost glory of the education sector through continuous engagement with stakeholders and collaboration across various fronts.
“This new term offers us the opportunity to advance the goals of this noble organisation. Beyond reporting, advocacy remains a critical tool, and we reaffirm our commitment to rededicate ourselves to the progress of this great association. With your continued support, we are confident that EWAN will achieve new milestones and create lasting impacts,” he said.