Desert Herald Journalist, Makes CAJ Executive List, As Group Debuts

As the Congress of African Journalists, CAJ, finally takes off, DESERT HERALD Bureau Chief For NorthWest and North East Nigeria, Mike Odeh James, has made it to the top list of the Executive Committee of CAJ as the Media Director. Amina Anebi, who is also executive member of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, Kaduna is also a member of CAJ Executive Committee.

By Ibrahim S Mada

A pan African media organization, Congress of African Journalists, CAJ, which is a vanguard organisation uniting the voices of professionals of African origin across the globe, has been registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

CAJ, registered as Incorporated Trustees of Congress of African Journalists has been embraced in over 25 different African countries including the Diaspora chapters (USA, Germany, UK and South America) as a unique platform for improving the journalism practice, protecting its practitioners, and most importantly, a pedestal for empowerment for its members.

Membership of the organisation is open to the Africans in Diaspora (those that trace their roots to Africa). It was formed as an umbrella body for journalists practicing journalism in all its forms. 

CAJ is guided by understanding of the critical role information plays in Africa’s development trajectory and will encourage and facilitate the sharing of factual information. 

While answering questions relating to CAJ and its relationship with other associations and media organisations across the globe, Adeboboye explained that CAJ was out not as a competing or rival organisation but emerging force always available for synergy, cooperation and collaboration with bodies championing relevant, same and similar objectives. 

“CAJ is not having any issue to contend with existing or any media or professional organisation yet to come on board. Rather, we expect to engage, synergize, collaborate and in a nutshell work with them on matters that have positive impacts in respect to our objectives. 

“As a matter of fact, all of us must be partners in progress. Every journalism organisation wants improvement in the practice of the profession. They want safe environment for the practitioners. They want better living conditions for their members. Apparently, CAJ incorporates the aforementioned in its vision. And being a pan African organisation with global network, we are a heavier force with unimaginable strength to demolish abnormalities that have arrested journalism and its practitioners of African origin across the globe into typhoon of oppression for too long a time. So when our sister organisations cry and it seems the voices are faintly heard or not heard at all, we are on board to add our own and of course will permeate the globe efficaciously. 

“CAJ believes strongly that to have different results, new strategies and approaches must evolve. We are banking on new ideas and strategies in order to achieve our objectives.”

According to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CAJ, Prince Michael Adeboboye, who is also the Acting President of the organisation “CAJ is guided by the principle of promoting high ethical standards in the profession, training, retraining and further education and up skilling of its members and general public with interest in journalism.”

“CAJ will be a prominent voice in advocacy for a safer working environment for journalists and a watchdog against the persecution of journalists discharging their duties lawfully.”

“CAJ shall promote excellence, community and innovation through publications, awards, recognitions and conferences.

According to Adeboboye, CAJ has its network across the globe and it’s all out ready for synergy in its operations.

While speaking on members who are qualified for the membership of CAJ, Adeboboye said “CAJ has categories of membership from professional, to Affiliate, Associate, and Veteran etc. Bloggers are also qualified. Although it is known that numerous bloggers are not professionally trained as journalists, but since there operations are legal and deals with information dissemination, they are privilege to register as members of CAJ.

“What CAJ will do is to upgrade them in the rudiment of the practice of journalism and adorn them with the ethical standards. CAJ will open avenues for training and retraining this category of membership and certify them.”

The CAJ Executive Committee consists of Michael A Adeboboye, Chairman, Board of Trustees/President (International); Emmanuella Maikem Manzie, Secretary Board of Trustees/Vice President CAJ Central Africa; Ashraf Aboul Yazid Dali, Member, Board of Trustees/Vice President, CAJ, North Africa; Joseph Adika, Member, Board of Trustees/Vice President, CAJ West Africa; Emmanuel N. Ketaman, Member, Board of Trustees/CAJ Director of Fund Raising and Ambe MacMillan Awa, Member, Board of Trustees.

Others include Olusiji Balogun, Member Board of Trustees; Mohammed Ibrahim Nur Moalimuu, Vice President, CAJ, East Africa; Ajong Mbapndah Laurean, Member, Board of Trustees/International Liaison (USA); Edache Qlaypole Ochola, Member, Board of Trustees;  Kudita Makwenzi Admire, Member, Board of Trustees/Vice President, Southern Africa and Mike James Odeh; Director of Media and Publicity, CAJ.

In the meantime, CAJ has constituted an interim committee for Nigerian Chapter, with Edache Qlaypole Ochola as the Chairman, while former NAWOJ Chairman, Ondo State Chapter is the Secretary. 

Other members of the committee are Niyi Oyedeji, Ngozi Amadi, Mike Augustine, Amina Anebi, Adedayo Osho and Solomon Gopkop.

The members of the committee are to run the affairs of the Nigeria’s chapter pending the general assembly of the organisation where proper election shall be conducted into offices of CAJ at all levels.

“Leaders of CAJ across the globe shall be announced before the first quarter of 2021” said Adeboboye.