By Ignatius Ushie
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has vowed to sustain the good working relationship between the association and journalists in Nigeria.
The RTEAN President, Alhaji Musa Mohammed made the vow on Thursday during a visit by the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel, FCT Council.
The visit was a sequel to the 3-day football tournament organized by the Chapel for organizations, associations and government agencies in the FCT, during which Alhaji Mohammed was a Special Guest of Honour, but was unavoidably absent.
The visit provided the NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel with the opportunity to decorate the RTEAN President with his medal, present the certificate of participation to the association and a mini-trophy for RTEAN’s partnership with the Chapel.
In his remarks, Mohammed expressed gratitude to the leadership of the NUJ FCT Correspondents’ Chapel for the honour and recognition just as he promised to sustain the collaboration with the Chapel in all its activities.
“To see all of you today in our national headquarters, I am so excited. We appreciate what you do as journalists and I want to especially thank you for putting together the 3-day football tournament.
“For you to recognise RTEAN and decorate me with my medal, present the trophy and the certificate to us as your guest and partner, I am so grateful. We appreciate the honour you have given to RTEAN. We will try our best to keep the good relationship between RTEAN and the NUJ,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, who led the Chapel delegation, had hailed the RTEAN President for his commitment to peaceful co-existence among members of the association across States of the Federation.
Comrade Oyekunle commended Mohammed for his statesmanship and for choosing the path of honour and peace without resorting to violence during an impasse the association had with the Lagos State Government.
Oyekunle urged other organizations and associations alike to emulate the RTEAN President’s exceptional and exemplary leadership style exhibited by seeking legal redress in the court of law.
Oyekunle stressed the visit was aimed at promoting strategic partnership and collaboration in many areas that would further deepen the existing relationship between the Chapel and RTEAN.
While seeking the collaboration of RTEAN for the next edition of the football tournament, Oyekunle said the association would be formally invited as a participating team.
He said “We are the executive members of Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Correspondents Chapel.
“We are here this afternoon to pay homage to you as Special Guest of Honour in our just concluded 3-day football tournament.
“This is borne out of the cordial relationship that has existed between you and the media over the years as well as your love and support for sports development in the country.
“Your presence at the final of our tournament would have been an icing on the cake but we understand your busy schedules and engagements and we are happy to tell you that the tournament was a huge success.
“Sir, it will interest you to know that RTEAN will be formally invited to participate next year in the second edition of our tournament and we can’t wait to see the President lead the team”.
