Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism,NIJ,Mr Gbenga Adefaye has appealed to graduates of the first Journalism institution in Nigeria,NIJ, to come to the institutions aid to enable it meet challenges of modern times.
The Provost made the appeal Monday in Lagos during the presentation of copies of new Media Book-Our Punch Years, authored by former staff of the company,by MrJoshua Agbeniga.
Mr Joshua Agbeniga,middle,presenting the books to Provost NIJ,Mr Gbenga Adefaye
Agbeniga,one of the earliest graduates of the school is a retired Senior Journalist with Punch and one of the contributors to the Book.
Speaking while receiving the books,
Adefaye,a former General Manager of Vanguard Newspapers ,observed that students of Journalism need to read about the growth and history of the Media to enable them cope with the challenges of the job.
He observed that todays young practitioners seldom read as wide as they should adding that the NIJ today is designed to give improved knowledge backed with sound education to improve performance of her graduates.
Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, Editor of the book explaining a point during the presentation
He urged Alumni members to help the institution by setting up an Endowment fund to enable it produce cutting edge Journaliists.
Speaking earlier, Mr Agbeniga who has the distinction of having worked in all sections of the Punch newspaper from Editorial,Marketting,
Distribution and Corporate Affairs before his retirement somebyears ago,recalled that his first training outside the country was courtesy of the NIJ adding that the series of further trainings he received contributed immensely to his success in the profession especially while with the Punch newspapers.
The Provost,Mr Adefaye going through a copy of the book
Agbeniga said the donation of the books to his Alma mater,is part of his attempt to give back to the profession.
Present at the short ceremony are,Dr Boye Ola,the Deputy Provost,Mrs Patricia Kalejaye,the Registrar,Lekan Otufodunrin,the Editor of the book and Tunde Abatan, also a former Punch staff and one of the contributors and Publisher of Newdawnngr.com-an online daily publication.
