The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) Africa Region has elected Mr Lekan Otufodunrin as president as well as others as new executive members at its General Assembly held on Wednesday, October 21.
Otufodunrin is a journalist with over four decades of experience. He is president of Journalists for Christ International Outreach, Nigeria.
Apart from being elected President of WACC-Africa, Amie Joof-Cole, Inter Africa Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development-FAMEDEV, Senegal emerged as the Vice President of the body.
Other executive members include Secretary, Blessing Oladunjoye of BO Foundation For Inclusive Media, Nigeria, Treasurer, Mwendwa Kivuva, Member, Board of Trustees, The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), Kenya, Alternate executive members – George Stewart, Media Development Specialist, Liberia and Opeyemi Lawal, Journalist, Nigeria.
The new executive will serve for four years.
Otufodunrin and Amie would also serve as board members of WACC UK Board.
In his acceptance, Otufodunrin pledged that the new executive will implement programmes that will promote the focus of WACC on digital, gender and climate justice among other issues in the continent.
At the opening ceremony, the Convener, West Africa Digital Rights Defenders Coalition, Mr Kehinde Adegboyega, who delivered a keynote address on Ensuring Digital Justice in Africa, called for universal access, rights safeguards and data sovereignty.
The road map for regional action according to him should include capacity building, policy advocacy, coalition building and community action.
“No digital future is just until it is inclusive, free and grounded in dignity for all Africans,” Adegoyega stated.
The assembly was attended by the Staff Liaison, Africa Region, Dr Sarah Macharia who commended the last executive headed by Matomklawè Kpalla for its accomplishments and urged the new executive to do more to enhance the status of the WACC in the region.
