Comfort Umanah: The Woman who Speaks Leadership with Experience

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

Comrade Comfort Umanah is not merely a pioneer member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council; she is one of the resilient women whose contributions helped to lay the foundation for the growth, stability and enduring relevance of the Union. A trailblazer, seasoned broadcaster and accomplished unionist, Comrade Umanah has remained a steady voice of wisdom and institutional memory through several administrations. Her selection as a resource person at the NUJ Leadership Summit for members of the State Working Committee and Chapel officers, held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the NUJ Press Centre, Uyo, was therefore a fitting recognition of a woman whose years of service have earned her the respect of generations within the profession.

Delivering a lecture on the topic, “Understanding Leadership in the Union”, the veteran journalist brought to the gathering a rare blend of knowledge, experience, conviction and practical insight. With the confidence of a woman who has served the profession with distinction and the warmth of a mentor committed to raising others, she described leadership as a broad and dynamic responsibility that begins with the individual. Drawing from her exposure to leadership training at the Meridian International Centre in Washington, DC, and the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel, Comrade Umanah maintained that leadership is not merely about occupying an office or wielding authority, but about providing direction, influencing others positively and making decisions that advance the collective good.

She reminded elected and appointed officers that leadership in the NUJ demands a clear understanding of the organisation and the responsibilities attached to every position. According to her, the NUJ occupies a unique place as both a professional body and a trade union, making it necessary for leaders to understand when and how to balance professional ethics with union responsibilities. She stressed that knowledge of the Union’s constitution is fundamental to effective leadership, describing it as indispensable to a union leader, just as an understanding of the Scriptures is essential to a Christian seeking to live by the principles of the faith. She also urged leaders to study the operational guidelines of their workplaces and understand the systems within which their members function.

Speaking with the candour of a woman who understands that leadership must be anchored on service rather than privilege, Comrade Umanah emphasised that the strength of a leader is reflected in the quality, enlightenment and confidence of the people being led. She urged union officers to empower members with knowledge of their rights, responsibilities, work ethics, staff handbooks, circulars and conditions of service. She also made it clear that occupying a union office does not confer immunity from accountability, insisting that discipline, humility, integrity and good conduct remain the true measures of successful leadership.

On financial responsibility, the respected media professional delivered a firm warning against the culture of pretence and artificial lifestyles that could lure union leaders into financial misconduct. She condemned any attempt to conceal impropriety through the delay or manipulation of audit reports, stressing that transparency must remain non-negotiable in the management of union resources. Her message was clear: leadership without honesty ultimately loses its moral authority. She therefore encouraged officers to promote the prompt payment of members’ statutory obligations and explore sustainable income-generating ventures, including cooperative initiatives and prudent investments, to strengthen the financial independence of the Union and reduce vulnerability to external influence.

Comrade Umanah also spoke passionately about the responsibility of the NUJ to preserve its integrity as the “watchdog of society.” She cautioned leaders against allowing the Union to become an instrument of propaganda for political interests or powerful individuals, maintaining that while the Union must build constructive relationships with government and other stakeholders, journalists must retain the freedom and courage to serve as the conscience of society. She urged leaders to accommodate criticism, listen to divergent opinions and avoid responding to every disagreement with anger, drawing strength from the biblical counsel in James 1:19 that every person should be “swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.”

With her rich professional background at the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and her current role at Redemption FM, Comrade Comfort Umanah stands as an inspiring model of excellence, resilience and purposeful leadership for emerging journalists. Her career reflects the strength of a woman who has not only witnessed the evolution of the media profession and the NUJ in Akwa Ibom State, but has contributed meaningfully to their growth. Her lecture was more than an academic presentation; it was a timely charge to leaders to serve with courage, lead with integrity and remember that power is temporary. In her closing admonition, she reminded participants that no position is permanent and that every leadership opportunity is held in trust—a message that resonated as both the counsel of a respected union elder and the enduring wisdom of a woman whose legacy continues to inspire the Press.