By Ayodele Abere
Students of the International Institute of Journalism, Ado-Ekiti campus have been charged to take their studies serious and ensure that they come out in flying colour.
This charge was made by the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, who is also a visitor to the Institute during the 2023/2024 matriculation ceremony held at the Institute campus in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
Babatuyi advised the students to take time to learn very well for them to become professional at the end of the day.
According to the NUJ Chairman, “we want to chase out quacks and that’s why the institute was set up, to change the society for better by doing away with anything that has to do with fake news.
In his admonition for the new intakes, the Coordinator of the Institute, Mr. Dare Daniels, urged them to do everything required of them as students of the Institute, noting that award of the IIJ certificate doesn’t base on academic alone but character as well.
Mr. Dare Daniels said there could be challenges but encouraged them to always allow the motivation that brought them to the Institute to keep them going and be found worthy of the certificate that would be awarded to them at the end of the day.
Also, the Academic Board Chairman of the Institute, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, urged the students to be of good conduct, responsible and reliable. Adding that they should be responsive to their lectures, training as well as the ethics of journalism profession, saying that the Institute is a place of training.
“We are training them to be responsive to future challenges and we are hopeful that they will not disappoint or betray us” . Akogun said.
Earlier, the former member of the Ekiti State House Assembly and the current Special Adviser to the Governor of Ekiti State on Social Investment Programmes, Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle, who delivered the matriculation lecture, in her own charge for the students said as journalists, they have a whole lot to deliver to Nigerians being the watchdog for both the governed and the government.
Ayokunle therefore, advised the students to find fun in what they are doing. “It becomes easy when you create fun of it and make it interesting to you”.
She urged them to be diligent and truthful. Adding that they should write and speak for justice by doing everything with the fear of God.
The President of Students Representative Council of the Institute, Mr. Rotimi Feyisina, who said he was having National Diploma in Mass Communication before joining the Institute, said he thought he didn’t need coming to the Institute until he realised the need.
“I observed that it’s real standard of education that is being followed at the Institute. Full standard of education and discipline are being taught.
“I want to appeal to my colleagues that are yet to get certificate in journalism to come and enrol. Before the end of one year, you are done”. Feyisina advised.
He said IIJ, Ado Ekiti Center is a place to be because of its crop of wonderful, disciplined and hardworking management staff.
In attendance at the matriculation was the immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Chapter, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela and many Heads of Media organisations in Ekiti State.
