A staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Comrade Ikechukwu Odu, has assumed duties as the Chairman of the Nsukka Federated Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council.

Odu will serve as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, replacing Comrade Ike Okenyi, whose tenure ended in September 2025.

In a letter dated January 12, 2026, the Enugu State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, said the Caretaker Committee has been mandated to oversee the conduct of elections for the emergence of a new leadership for the Chapel.

According to the letter, Comrade Felix Ugwuanyi of The Trumpet newspaper will serve as Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, while Comrade Hilary Akalugwu, of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, will serve as a member.

In his acceptance speech, Comrade Odu, who holds Bachelor of Arts, and Master of Arts degrees in Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, described his emergence as a call to service and urged members of the Chapel to work together to ensure a transparent and credible election.

He also cautioned professional journalists against abandoning their responsibilities to charlatans who use social media to spread unverified reports.

He further stressed that journalists owe society the duty of providing accurate, timely and balanced reportage, noting that with the perceived failure of the judiciary, the media has become the “last hope of the common man.”

While commending the immediate past chairman for his achievements, he pledged to build on them to further advance the Chapel.

Comrade Odu, is equally a freelance contributor to Vanguard newspaper.