The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) Regional Association in Africa has elected Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, as President during its recent virtual General Assembly.
Otufodunrin is a journalist with over four decades of experience. He is president of Journalists for Christ International Outreach (JFC), Nigeria.
Amie Joof-Cole of the Inter-African Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development (FAMEDEV), Senegal, was also elected as the Vice-President.
Other members of the new WACC Africa Regional Executive Committee (REC) include Blessing Oladunjoye, BO Foundation For Inclusive Media, Nigeria, as Secretary; Mwendwa Kivuva, Trustee for Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), Kenya, as Treasurer; and George Stewart, media development specialist, Liberia, and Opeyemi Lawal, journalist, Nigeria, as Alternate executive members.
The new REC will serve for four years.
A statement by the association said: ‘Otufodunrin and Joof-Cole were also nominated to serve as board members of WACC UK.
In his acceptance, Otufodunrin pledged that the new executive will implement programs that promote WACC’s focus on digital, gender, and climate justice, among other issues on the continent.
Reacting, Otufodunrin said: ‘Honoured to have been elected the new president of WACC – Global Africa Region.
‘I became a member in 1998 and through the years, the organisation has immensely enhanced my media practice and expanded my network with opportunities to participate in various programmes and invaluable resources.
‘I remember reading about the late Dr Christopher Kolade, former Director, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation and Ambassador to the United Kingdom, who was a former International President of WACC, and I have been inspired to serve in various capacities.
‘I’m looking forward to working with the new executive to advance the mission of WACC in the continent and beyond in core areas of Digital, Gender and Climate Justice and more.’
Sarah Macharia, WACC’s global staff liaison for the Africa region, commended the outgoing REC, led by WACC Director Matomklawè Kpalla, for its accomplishments and urged the new regional board to do more to enhance WACC’s status in the region.