Hassan emerges chairman as CICAN changes leadership

Comrade Taiwo Hassan of the New Telegraph newspaper has emerged as the Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), in a keenly contested election held at the NACCIMA House in Lagos on Thursday.

The election, held to usher in a new executive council to steer the affairs of the association for the next three years, saw Hassan securing 25 votes out of a total of 35 votes with one void to defeat Mrs. Rhoda Ogunseye of CrystalNews.com, who polled 9 votes.

The results were announced by the association’s three-member electoral committee, chaired by Comrade Haruna Jimoh of MITV.

Jimoh declared that Comrade Hassan had fulfilled all electoral requirements and was duly elected.

Other members of the newly elected executive include Vice Chairman, Comrade Stanley Ihedigbo (Mirror Online Newspaper); Secretary General, Comrade Olufemi Orioye (OGBC); Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Funmi Adeoye (FRCN); Treasurer, Mrs. Merit Ibe (The Sun Newspaper), all unopposed, and Financial Secretary, Mr. Canice Opara (Dispatch News Online), who was also returned unopposed as well.

Comrade Jimoh described the election as free and fair, commending members for their discipline and encouraging the new leadership to uphold their campaign promises and elevate the association’s profile.

In his acceptance speech, Comrade Hassan expressed gratitude to members for their support and pledged to lead with transparency, accountability, and justice.

He emphasised the executive’s commitment to enhancing members’ welfare through proactive policies, regular capacity building initiatives, and stronger stakeholder engagement.

He also reaffirmed CICAN’s role in contributing to Nigeria’s economic alignment with the country’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy.

The electoral committee also included Comrade Ayanfeoluwa Providence as Secretary and Comrade David Oladimeji of Reporters Diary Newspaper as a member.