From Neglect to Nobility: How the Ogun NUJ Secretariat Got Its Rebirth

From Neglect to Nobility: How the Ogun NUJ Secretariat Got Its Rebirth

Opinion 

One of the most remarkable achievements of the Wale Olanrewaju–led administration of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is the extraordinary transformation of the council’s state secretariat. What once stood as a tired, worn-out structure has been reborn into a modern, functional, and dignified working environment that every journalist in the state can be proud of.

The Secretariat’s total overhaul tells a story of vision and commitment. The office now occupied by the Secretary was once the Chairman’s office — a space that, to many who remember its previous state, was far from befitting of such a role. Today, it stands transformed — neat, properly furnished, and symbolic of progress. The Chairman’s office has been elevated to a new structure — the former space once managed by the Secretary — which was once an untidy and uninspiring area. 

That same location has now become a hospitable, well-organized environment where visitors can be received with pride and meaningful discussions can thrive.

The Secretariat now boasts a boardroom equipped with air conditioning, a newly created office for the Treasurer and Vice Chairman, and three functional conveniences. Members can now work comfortably within the Secretariat, even as the newsroom project within the Iya Bonke premises is in the pipeline . 

The hall itself has received a major facelift — with new POP ceilings, fans, and seven air conditioners fitted to make meetings and events more conducive.

The once-persistent water crisis in the compound has also been resolved with the installation of a functional borehole that serves all offices. 

Soon, the council will complete the long-abandoned toilet facility, (*handled by a supposed candidate in the forthcoming election* ) behind the hall. This will provide additional convenience for our members, tenants, and visitors alike.

The compound’s internal roads, which had begun to deteriorate, were swiftly rehabilitated through the intervention of the Ogun State Public Works Agency at the request of the Chairman. 

The icing on the cake, however, is the uninterrupted solar-powered lighting system — courtesy of the Senator representing Ogun Central, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu — complemented by additional solar streetlights donated by the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Adelola Matemilola. 

Together, these have turned the Secretariat into what many now fondly describe as “a Small London” by night.

In all, it has been a story of development over promises, vision over rhetoric, and proof that with dedication and teamwork, transformation is not just possible — it is visible.