Nigeria Institute of Journalism advocates training, retraining of journalists

Training and retraining of media practitioners that will function in all aspects of mass media is the only way sanity will be brought to the media profession in Nigeria.

The Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye who stated this in Lagos during the sixth convocation and 50th-anniversary ceremony of the school said that the media profession has been invaded with quacks and needs well-trained professionals that will fill the gap.

Mr. Adefaye said that NIJ has continued to produce well-trained professionals who will change the face of journalism practice and skillfully fill the critical media space.

According to him, a total of 922 (nine hundred and twenty two) students graduated with National and Higher Diploma in Mass Communication and post graduate diploma  in journalism from the 2018 to 2021 academic session..

He called on the Graduands to always heed to what they were taught in school to prove to the world that journalism is a credible profession announcing that  they are working towards making the school a university.

”The age of ICT distraction when anyone who can afford data and smart phone calls himself a journalist. What one in this profession needs is training and retraining and I am happy that NIJ is releasing in to the world nine hundred and twenty two qualified professionals who will be ethical and affect the larger society. I urge them to remember what they have been taught and apply their skills to enable them prove to the world that journalism is a credible profession that is manned by the professionals like themselves,” he added

The Chairman Lagos State Chapter of NUJ, Adeleye Ajayi who attested to the quality of media practitioners produced by the NIJ called on the government to upgrade the school to a degree awarding institution urging anyone who wishes to work as a media practitioner to go through NIJ.

“This institution is a known citadel of journalism. If you go to the media houses you find a lot of NIJ graduates performing very well. I urge the government to upgrade the school to a degree awarding institution. It is advisable that everyone involved in Mass Communication or in the media industry should ensure that they pass through NIJ to learn more,” he added.

Two of the Graduands, Adedapo Adesanya and Miss Khadija Aleje who bagged several merit awards including the overall graduating best students of the school said passion, dedication and hard work earned them the awards.

They thanked God, their parents and lecturers for the awards and promised to give their best to the profession urging the youths never to give up on their dreams.

Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of prices to outstanding students.
 

Nnenna.O