Ishaku Takes Charge, Pledges Unity, Welfare and Professional Excellence
By Mercy Dominic & Usman Umar
YOLA — The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa State Council, on Monday swore in a newly elected executive committee of the Adamawa Press Limited (APL) Chapel, ushering in a leadership that has vowed to unite its ranks, defend members’ interests, and raise the bar of professionalism within the state’s journalism community.
The ceremony, held on Monday, September 15, 2026, at the APL Newsroom in Yola, drew members of the NUJ State Council, management and staff of Adamawa Press Limited — publishers of The Scope Newspaper — alongside other invited guests, in a colourful event that signalled the beginning of a new chapter for the chapel.
Presiding over the swearing-in, NUJ Adamawa State Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim, administered the oath of office to the incoming executives and charged them to anchor their tenure on service, integrity, and the welfare of members.
Comrade Ibrahim congratulated the new team and urged them to justify the trust reposed in them through leadership that is responsible, transparent, and inclusive. He singled out the immediate past Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Japhet Nyahama, for commendation, describing his tenure as one marked by cooperation, stability, and productive engagement between the APL Chapel and the NUJ State Council — a foundation, he noted, that the incoming executive must now protect and build upon.
Leadership in the NUJ, he stressed, goes beyond merely occupying office. Elected officers, he said, must remain accessible to members, attentive to their concerns, and committed to working collectively to resolve the challenges confronting journalists. He further called on the new executive to embrace teamwork and mutual respect, cautioning against division, and urging them to keep the chapel a formidable platform for defending journalism, upholding professional ethics, and advancing members’ welfare.
Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of Adamawa Press Limited, Mrs. Dakaron Yusuf, commended the chapel for conducting a peaceful and credible election that produced the new executive, describing it as a testament to the maturity of its members.
Mrs. Yusuf urged the newly elected officers to respect the distinct responsibilities assigned to each member of the executive and to create room for every member to contribute meaningfully to the administration. She noted that effective teamwork, discipline, mutual respect, and a clear division of labour remained essential ingredients for a successful tenure.
The General Manager expressed optimism that the new executive would sustain a cordial relationship with the management of Adamawa Press Limited and contribute positively to industrial harmony and professional excellence within the organisation. She pledged management’s continued support and encouraged the leadership to embrace constructive engagement, rather than confrontation, as its preferred approach to resolving issues affecting members. She rounded off her remarks with prayers for wisdom, unity, and success for the new executive.
In his acceptance speech and vote of thanks, the newly sworn-in Chairman of the APL Chapel, Comrade Isuwa Ishaku, expressed profound appreciation to the NUJ State Chairman and members of the State Council for their leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of journalism in Adamawa State. He also thanked the General Manager and management of Adamawa Press Limited for their support and for fostering an environment conducive to professional journalism.
Comrade Ishaku assured members that his administration would run an open-door policy, with inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability as its guiding principles. He pledged to prioritise the welfare of journalists, foster unity among members, and defend the legitimate professional and workplace interests of the chapel.
The new chairman further promised to work hand in hand with the NUJ State Council and the management of Adamawa Press Limited to address issues affecting members while promoting a peaceful and productive working environment. He called on members to set aside personal differences and work together for the collective good of the union, stressing that a united chapel stands far better positioned to confront the professional and welfare challenges ahead.
The ceremony closed in an atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie, as journalists and guests alike congratulated the new executive on their assumption of office. Many described the event as an opportunity for the APL Chapel to consolidate the gains of the outgoing administration while opening a fresh chapter anchored on unity, professionalism, welfare, and responsible union leadership.
With the new executive now formally in office, expectations run high among members that the Isuwa Ishaku-led administration will move swiftly from promise to practice — delivering concrete programmes capable of strengthening the chapel and improving the professional fortunes and welfare of journalists under the APL umbrella.
