Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) during the
inauguration. L-R: Chidiebere Nwankwo (Secretary); Chioma Obiora-Ezike
(Treasurer); Chike Onwuegbuchi (Chairman); Bukola Olarenwaju (Asst.
Secretary); Justus Adejumoh (Financial Secretary)
In a landmark election conducted through electronic voting (e-Voting), the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) has elected new officials to man its affairs for the next three years.
The election, which was conducted at the office of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) in Lagos, saw three of the past EXCO members returned.
The election also saw all the candidates go unopposed except for the position of Secretary, which was contested between Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo and Mr. Martin Ekpeke.
As a test of popularity, the unopposed positions still went through the election process where the Chairman, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi (Communications Week) polled 92.6 percent of votes cast; Financial Secretary, Mr. Justus Adejumoh (Daily Independent) polled 88.9 percent; Assistant Secretary, Bukola Olarenwaju (Business Remarks) got 92.6 percent and treasurer, Mrs. Chioma Obiora-Ezike (News Agency of Nigeria) got 96.3 percent of votes. Chidiebere Nwankwo won the position of the secretary with a total of 70.4 percent the votes cast
However, the Electoral Committee voided the position of the Vice Chairman due to the absence of the sole contestant. Rerun elections into the position and that of the Internal Auditor ware rescheduled for mid-March.
Speaking on the election process, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee and publisher of eWorldnews.com.ng, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, noted that the Committee decided on the use of e-Voting because the Association should be at the forefront of promoting digital processes in Nigeria.
“We were able to put a technology-based process in place; and as technology people, we had to make sure that we set the pace,” Mr. Ukodie noted.
According to the Chairman, although there were challenges in the process, the use of e-Voting system proved to be the best process in this era of digitization as it ensured that no member, present or absent, was disenfranchised during the election.
He thanked the Executive Committee and the entire membership of the Association for their cooperation through the period of the elections.
Also speaking, the outgoing Chairman of the Association, Mr. Emma Okonji narrated the vision behind the formation of NITRA and thanked the executive committee for working with him assiduously towards maintaining the vision.
He charged the incoming EXCO to raise the NITRA flag higher and not be daunted by challenges that will come. “You will face challenges, both internally and externally, my administration did as well. But I encourage you not to fazed by it, once you know you are doing the right things, you will overcome the challenges,” he encouraged.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the new executives, the Chairman, Mr. Onwuegbuchi noted that the task ahead is to build upon the achievements of the previous administration.
While promising that all campaign promises by the new EXCO will be implemented, he called on members to come together to ensure that the Association takes its pride of place in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.
The new EXCO has a three-year tenure that ends in 2023 before a new election is conducted.
