NUJ Visits Tompolo, Appreciates Support for Owerri Conference, Warri Secretariat
By Our Correspondent
The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has paid a thank-you visit to the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to express deep appreciation for his unwavering support to the union.
The visit, held at Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, was to acknowledge Chief Ekpemupolo’s pivotal role in the success of the NUJ’s 2024 Triennial Delegates Conference in Owerri, Imo State, and to commend his contribution to the construction of a befitting secretariat for the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel.
The NUJ delegation was led by its National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, accompanied by the immediate past president, Chief Chris Isiguzo, Deputy National President, Dr. Abimbola Oyetunde, Vice President (Zone F), Comrade Opaka Dokubo, and Zonal Secretary, Comrade John Angese.
Also in attendance were veteran journalist Asiwaju Sola Adebayo and the Director of Media and Communications for Tantita Security Services, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo.
Speaking during the visit, Comrade Yahya described Tompolo’s support as timely and crucial, especially during a financially challenging period for the union. He noted that the success of the Owerri conference was largely due to the High Chief’s generous financial intervention.
He further described the Warri press centre project as a historic milestone, stating that “no chapel in the history of NUJ has ever had a permanent secretariat before now.”
“The project, from design to completion, was fully sponsored by Tantita Security Services under the visionary leadership of Chief Ekpemupolo,” Yahya said.
He assured that the new facility would significantly enhance journalism practice and professionalism in Delta State and beyond, pledging the union’s commitment to fair, balanced, and responsible reportage of Tantita’s operations.
In his response, Chief Ekpemupolo thanked the NUJ leadership for the recognition and emphasized the vital role of journalists in promoting peace, security, and accountability in society. He acknowledged the media’s role in spotlighting the activities of Tantita Security and vowed to maintain a strong partnership with the press.
He reiterated his company’s commitment to the ongoing fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism across the Niger Delta, assuring that Tantita would not relent in its mission to safeguard Nigeria’s oil assets.
Also present at the event were the NUJ Delta State Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, and State Secretary, Comrade Victor Sorokwu, alongside the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrades Sonia Unobunjo and Ruth Omigie.
