The Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) is reportedly embroiled in controversy following Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s cash gift of N39 million to selected female members for an overseas training program, SaharaReporters has learned.
According to reliable sources, the training program for female journalists was scheduled for September 2025 in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The Association approached the governor for financial support, which he granted.
SaharaReporters gathered that the state chapter chairperson, Sonia Ogugua Unobunjo of Delta Rainbow Television (DRTV), Warri, together with a few selected members, initially proposed seeking the governor’s assistance.
A source within the Government House revealed that, realising the initial approach might not yield results, the NAWOJ chairperson enlisted two female state correspondents who are not members of the Association to leverage their closeness to the governor and secure the funding.
“Thereafter, a Government House staff member was approached to prepare a memo for the fund, and it was sent to the governor using the name of the correspondent to front as the leader of the NAWOJ team for the trip,” the source said.
“The governor then approved the sum of N39 million, and the money was released. After receiving the N39 million from the governor, the NAWOJ chairperson and the selected few members failed to attend the event, and the two female national television correspondents allegedly withheld the money.
“After much forth and back, they reluctantly released a paltry amount that was shared with the NAWOJ chairperson and one other member, while others were sidelined.”
Speaking to SaharaReporters, some aggrieved members of the Association, who requested anonymity, described the handling of the N39 million as “fraudulent and shameful.”
They lamented that the funds, which were meant for the Association, were allegedly hijacked by the chairperson and a small group of associates.
One executive member of the state chapter, also speaking anonymously, expressed outrage over the manner in which the governor’s N39 million was allegedly seized and distributed among the chairperson and a few others, particularly since many members did not attend the training program.
The executive member confirmed that female journalists under NAWOJ were scheduled to attend an overseas training program in Amsterdam in September 2025, but lacked funds for the trip.
An idea was proposed to seek financial assistance from the governor, and the chairperson allegedly brought in two non-member state correspondents from two television stations due to their closeness to the governor, replacing original NAWOJ members.
“Sonia Ogugua Unobunjo (NAWOJ chairperson) dropped Mrs. Stella Macaulay, Mrs. Christy Ichofu, and a few others and listed Nneka Ozegbe, Ruth Ndudi Peters, Mariam Nweke, and others. The two female correspondents, who are non-NAWOJ members and were not included in the earlier plan, were brought in,” the source said.
“Funnily enough, they didn’t attend the event at all. Do you know what they did again? After collecting the N39 million, they went underground, creating the impression that they had traveled overseas for the program, which they never attended.”
Another disgruntled NAWOJ member, supporting the executive member’s account, claimed that the training, initially scheduled for three days, was reportedly recorded as a one-month program.
The NAWOJ member said, “However, after the funds were subsequently released, one of the TV journalists withheld the money meant for other members for the trip, claiming it was personally approved for her by the governor. As we talk, a serious crisis has rocked our NAWOJ because of the N39 million released by the governor for the training program, which was never attended.
“We are appealing to the governor to please set up a committee to investigate this matter. Sonia is again being forced on us for a second tenure.”
When contacted for comments, Sonia Ogugua Unobunjo, chairperson of NAWOJ in Delta State, denied that the association wrote any letter to the governor requesting funds.
When asked about the alleged memo and the release of N39 million, she declined to comment, stating that she was occupied with her election and could only discuss the matter afterward.
“Please, today is my election, and I won’t be able to have the chance to discuss any issue now. Maybe after my election,” she said.
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