For the first time since it was established 26 years ago, a female has emerged as the first ever President, League of Maritime Editors (LOME).
She is Mrs. Remi Itie, an erstwhile reporter with New Nigerian and presently, the Publisher, Pathway Magazine.
Itie who is popularly called Mama Maritime and others were elected recently to pilot the affairs of the body for the next two years. A veteran journalist, Itie clinched 11 votes to defeat her opponent, Mr. Eddie Iroha who got only 9 votes.
In the same vein, Mr. Godwin Obi defeated Mr. Eguono Odjegba to emerge as the new Financial Secretary of LOME.
Other members of the executives were elected unopposed as they did not have any opponent.
These include Mr. Friday Odoemena, Vice President; Mr. Felix Kumuyi, Secretary; Chief Okey Iroegbu, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Anthony Ohakwe, Treasurer; Mr. Shola Mekusi, Welfare Officer; and Mr. Francis Ugwoke, Public Relations Officer.
During the election which took place after LOME annual general meeting (AGM) at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, two senior maritime journalists, Mr. Funso Olojo and Chief Innocent Chukwu were the Returning Officers while the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Maritime Bits, Rev. John Iwori and Mr. Foster Obi of DFC News acted as Election Observers.
Itie in her acceptance speech after the election, she promised to do her best in serving the association for the next two years just as she extended a hand of fellowship to those who did not support her aspiration to continue to make the association great.
Itie who remains an engine room to many administrations in LOME and has held several positions in the past including that of Vice President reiterated her desire to take the association to a greater height through her networks and productivity quotient.
