NIJ Voice

By Aderoju Noah Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin has bagged the Award of Excellence as the Distinguished Service Unilag Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) Print Journalist of the Year. Otufodunrin who graduated from the school 36 years ago announced the development on Monday in a virtual group of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism's HND class where he is also taking Multimedia Journalism as a Part-time lecturer. The erstwhile journalist who was once an editor of The Nation newspaper before he proceeded to float his Media Career Development platform recalled his days in the University as a student, journalist and unionist.  "I am humbled by this award which reminds me of my days in the department where I learnt the skills that prepared me for my media career.  I was News Editor of UNILAG Sun,  Editor, The Communicator, editorial member of Eye Magazine, Assistant Secretary and President of the department students associa...

 By Ibrahim Firdaus and Abosede Hannah Olukunle Akinrinade of The Nation Newspaper has emerged the winner of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting ( WSAIR ) Journalist of the Year. Akinrinade also won the Print category of the award on Thursday along with Kunle Adebajo, Mary Abayomi-Fatile, Vi ctor Asowata and Abiodun Omotoso  who won the other categories of the award . At the award event held at Neca House Ikeja, the organisers pronounced Olukunle Akinrinade as the Investigative Reporter of the year and winner of the Print category of the Award, Kunle Adebajo as the winner of the Online Category, Mary Abayomi-Fatile as the winner of the Radio Category, Victor Asowata as the winner of the Editorial Cartoon category and Abiodun Omotosho as the winner of the Photography category. The 2021 edition of the Award is the 16th in the history of WSAIR and the winners emerged out of the 220 entries reviewed by the judges' board chaired by Ayo Obe a Lawyer, human rights act...

By Aderoju Noah The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism has launched a project called the Civic Space Guards Project yesterday at its 16th Award night for Investigative reporters. Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ Motunrayo Alaka launched the project at the 16th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at Neca House, Ikeja to position the media especially investigative reporters as protectors of the gradually disappearing civic space in Nigeria. The project will engage in activities to mainly: Call out attempts to shrink the civic space Honour people defending the civic space Hold conversations about the reality of the civic space  Monitor reportage of abuses to people trying to protect the space and Develop the capacity of reporters. She noted that there is no better time to launch the project than now when the country is facing serious encroachment of her civic space by the government even after over 21 years of adopting democracy. "There has been no year...

By Miracle Beniah In a bid to address the challenges the 21st-century photojournalists are faced with and proffer solutions, as well as highlight opportunities in the digital space, the Guild of Photojournalists Nigeria (GPN) , held its Annual Conference and Exhibition at the Ikeja Business Club auditorium on Thursday, December 9.  The programme themed digital revolution: opportunities and challenges in the 21st-century photojournalism was a platform for members and non-members of the GPN, experts in finance, investment, tourism as well as students to share knowledge, experiences and arrive at solutions to the challenges Nigerian photojournalists are faced with. Speaking at the event, Dr Adeboye Ola , Head of Department of General Studies (HOD) at the Nigerian Institute of journalism advised photojournalists to horn their skills and take photos that distinguish them from amateurs and non-professionals.  He stressed the need for photojournalists to flow with the tide of chan...

By Olajumoke Ajayi, Gbolahan Adegbite, Olamide Bamidele, and Oyindamola Lamidi As part of efforts to boost student participation in sports activities, the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) on Wednesday, December 8 held the first ever NIJ Sports Hangout.  The event which was held at the main field of the school featured varieties of sports and games from football to chess to card games even traditional games were not left behind.  Staylites Defeat Freshers 3-0  One. Two. Three was the count on the score board as Staylites team made up of Higher National Diploma II and National Diploma II students beat the Freshers team made up of Higher National Diploma I and National Diploma I students.  After a goalless and dull first half, the game picked up towards the climax when HND II player, Ubani Raymond with a swift play with his coursemates, Adedapo Adesanya pulled the first goal into the back of the net.  This weake...

By Mercy Ben-Kalio, Doris Israel, Favour Odimnfe, and Aderayo Olusanya  The Executive Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Odunmbaku ‘Segun, claimed that two students died while 12 others were injured compared to previously reported figures which listed various numbers including 15.  According to a statement titled Events of fatal motor/pedestrian accident at Ojodu involving students , Mr Segun said: “Unfortunately, as a result of the accident, two students were confirmed dead on the spot. The identity of the deceased is revealed below: 1. Adedoyin Adebayo; 2. Akpolebi Israel.   “Asides from the two deceased, seven females and five males totalling 12 victims also sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said. He explained that on December 7, 2021, at about 02:15 pm, a DAF truck with Registration No. APP 438 YA driven by one ‘ Bolaji Kabiru ’ rammed into some pedestrians at Grammar School Bus Stop along Ogunnusi Road later identified as students of Bab Fafu...

By Doris Israel Ijeoma Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu has sympathised with the bereaved family of victims of the tragic truck accident that claimed the lives of two students and injured 12 others at Grammar school area of Ojodu. In  a condolence message signed by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile on Wednesday, he described the demise of the students as sad, unfortunate and avoidable. He commiserated with the parents, management, staff and students of Ojodu Grammar school over the unfortunate death of students, and prayed for the survivors who are receiving treatment in hospital for the injuries they sustained. He also instructed that the school be closed till January while investigation is ongoing as the erring truck driver is in the custody of the police. NIJVOICE reported on Tuesday that about 17 students were claimed to be dead due to the incident. However, police report and a statement released by the Ojodu Local Council Development Area confirm...

 By Gbemisola Adesanya Hakeem Odumosu , the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, served as the number one police officer in Edo before he was deployed to the Centre of Excellence.  Odumosu, a former commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, replaced Zubairu Muazu , who has been elevated to the post of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police . He was enlisted into the force on March 3, 1990.   Since his enlistment, he has taken a number of courses to aid his understanding of his job and the success of the operations of the police force. Some of the courses he took include intermediate command course, and strategic leadership command course at the Police Staff College, Jos.  Odumosu: A Lover of Academics  The 57-year-old is also a fellow international institute of professional security, member of the international association of chief of police, a fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, member of the ...

By Miracle Beniah, Mofoluwasho Oladunjoye, and Reynold Egbonwon  During his lecture with the final year students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism on Tuesday, December 8, t he Deputy Provost of the institute , Dr Dele Omojuyigbe stated that the students who allegedly bullied and poisoned the late Sylvester Oromoni are not the only ones responsible for his death.  He stressed that the young boy died as a result of gross indiscipline and failing systems. He added that the boy's parent, the parent of the children involved, authorities of the school, teachers, government and all systems the children passed through before getting to the point they are all responsible for the boy's death. In support of what Dr Omojuyigbe said, Child's Right lecturer at NIJ, Mrs Ime Umoren stressed that if all factors involved which include parents, teachers and the government all played their roles well, effectively, and corrupt-free, Sylvester and other children who have suffered and...

By Oladunni Ayobami, Aderoju Noah, Igwejiakwu Mercy, Olabode Oluwakemi and Akintunde Victor There was pandemonium in Ojodu area of Lagos on Tuesday when a delivery truck ran into students of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior School killing scores of them. As many as seventeen were said to have been killed with just one survivor but there was no confirmation of the actual number of victims. The truck allegedly chased by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps on the Ogba-Ojodu Berger Road rammed into these students waiting by the roadside to either cross the road or get a bus having closed from school for the day. Victims of the accident who were able to survive but with injuries were transported to close by hospitals for treatment by minibuses (Korope) drivers According to a teacher of the school, and some students lamenting the incident, it is not the first time they would chase vehicles in that manner disregarding the safety of people. He said that they would go and warn the FRSC to ...

 By Aderoju Noah Odumosu arriving at the Convocation  Picture by Ogunronbi Kehinde Two graduates of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu and Dr Festus Osoba have promised to sponsor the Post Graduate Diploma Category of the Best Student in Public Relations and Best Student in Broadcast of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism henceforth. This was announced at the 6th Convocation of the NIJ held on the 30th of November 2021 in the school campus. The Best Student in PGD Public Relations option and Best Student in PGD Broadcast option are among the merit awards given to extraordinary students of each set at every convocation to recognise their performance and encourage other students. These categories prior to the announcement had no sponsors. Odumosu promised to start his sponsorship of Best Student in Public Relations from this present convocation making the awardees of this convocation entitled to a cash prize. Howe...

By Mariam Yaya and Oluwakemi Olabode  Students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos will not participate in the Peace Walk on Saturday to be led by the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The President of the Council, NIJ, Adedapo Adesanya stated the position of students of the institution following the decision of their counterparts in the Lagos State University (LASU) to participate in the Walk.  The Peace Walk organised by the state government is meant to pacify frail nerves over police brutality and killings.  On Thursday, the  President of the Student Union Government, LASU, Oladipupo Uthman Badmus had  expressed their readiness  to participate in the  Walk of Peace proposed by the governor. " We will be by your side. Whenever you run, we will run with you to the end, ” Badmus stated when  Sanwo-Olu inaugurated a new Students’ Arcade at the school premises and  was welcomed by the SUG President and  Speaker of the St...

By Oladunni Ayobami. "All the achievements I am happy about didn't just come to be. They are the results of years of pain, hard work and constricting myself."  Adedapo Adesanya who bagged the National Diploma overall best student of 2019 set and three more awards of excellence at the 6th convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), says he paid a price for his achievements. Adesanya disclosed in an interview with this reporter that he had lost opportunities into university on two to three occasions since he finished high school in 2011, until 2017 when he finally got admitted into NIJ. He disclosed the delay he has had as the driving force for his performance which culminated in his achievements in the institution being celebrated. "All the achievements I am happy about didn't just come to be. They are the results of years of pain, hard work and constricting myself," Adesanya said, urging that it's an attribute every student must-h...

By Mercy Igwejiaku Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has commended the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) for remaining a foremost institution for the training of mass communication professionals in the country. Fayemi gave the commendation in the 6th Convocation Lecture he delivered on Monday, November 29 at the Institute in Lagos. "It is commendable that NIJ has remained has remained the face of the finest professional institution for mass communicators in the country," Fayemi stated. He noted that many of the most vibrant journalists during the military era who fought for democracy were distinguished alumni of the institution. Audio:  The Governor commended the resourcefulness and doggedness of the leadership of the institute for keeping alive the vision of the founding fathers of the school. He said he was impressed by the progress the institute has made both in terms of physical infrastructure and academic progress. "I pay tribute to the untiring and comm...

By Fatimah Odukoya, Kehinde Ogunronbi, and Oluwakemisola Bogunjoko Lecturers lament low number of students showing up for lectures as students complain of tiredness After the fanfare and merriment that highlighted the doubled-edged event of the 50th anniversary and 6th convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, lecturers have lamented against the reaction of students to return to normalcy.  With no time to waste, lectures have commenced with lecturers shaking off their fatigue and returning to the lecture halls but the students instead showed no allegiance to the adage which says, "when the student is ready, the master shall appear" with scanty numbers witnessed in some classes.  Some lecturers taught a new topic in class while other lecturers opted for revision with the few students in class.  For instance, the Head of Department (HoD), Mass Communication, Mr Mike Osuji , who teaches the Media Management and Organization class for the...