NIJ to become degree awarding institute —Osoba

The Nigeria Institute of Journalism, NIJ, will soon move from the present status to the degree awarding institute.

Chairman, NIJ Governing Council, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, gave the assurance, yesterday, during the turning of the SOD for the construction of the 350-seater Kesington Adebutu Media Resource Auditorium, in the institute.

Osoba, two-time Ogun State governor, who was represented at the event by one of the board members of the institute, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, added that the auditorium which was donated to the institute by Sir Kesington Adebutu would add value to the journalism profession in Nigeria.

He said: ”The journalism profession in Nigeria has gone far, but what I have seen here in Nigeria cannot be compared with what we have in Western Africa or the sub region of it.

“Nigeria should lead, not only by example, in the practical terms of the world of journalism and that is why the board, under the leadership of Segun Osoba, is working relentlessly to ensure that this school moves from the present status to the degree awarding institute. I am assuring you, in the next couple of months, we will see that development.

“I will tell you that aside from UNILAG, LASU and a few others that offer Mass Communication, I have never seen any other institution that would rub shoulders with NIJ,” he added.

On the auditorium, Osoba said, “I must say that today is an important occasion in the sense that since this institute was founded, today, we are having someone who is donating to us a 350-seater hall at no extra cost to us.

“It is an added value advantage for the profession of journalism in Nigeria and I must commend the provost and his team for ensuring that this project gets started.”

Also speaking, Sir Adebutu, said “the auditorium is a way of giving back to the society and to also support journalism profession in Nigeria.”

Baba Ijebu who was represented at the event by a member of Kesington Adebutu Foundation, Mr. Kola Oyefeso, said the foundation was set up to give back to society.