NIJ to become degree- awarding institution soon, Osoba assures

The Council Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Olusegun Osoba, has said that efforts are on to convert the Institute into a degree-awarding institution like its counterparts in Ghana and Kenya.

Osoba, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Lagos, during the turning of sod for the construction of Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre, said that in the next few months, NIJ would have an added feather and become a degree-awarding institution.

He maintained that Nigeria should lead the practice of journalism in not just within the West African region, but also across Africa.

Osoba, represented by a former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lanre Ogundipe, who is also a member of the NIJ Council, thanked Adebutu for keeping his promise of donating a resource centre to the institution.

He said that the structure, when completed, would be an added value to journalism profession in Nigeria.

Kola Oyefeso, who stood in for Adebutu, did the sod turning.
According to him, the commencement of the project was delayed because the sponsor does not like executing projects in piecemeal.

Oyefeso said that the 350-seater resource centre would be completed in four months.

He said that when the project is completed, it will have of great impact to students and all those who will be using the facility.

On his part, Provost of the institute, Gbenga Adefaye, expressed the institution’s gratitude to the donor, noting that he did not just promise but fulfilled it.