The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos, a premier monotechnic for journalism education, remains the top choice for aspiring journalists.
Since its founding in 1963 by the International Press Institute, with full operations commencing in 1971, NIJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape in Nigeria and globally.in the 1970s, the NIJ began to expand its programs and services, introducing new courses and training programs for journalists.
The institution also established partnerships with other journalism training institutions around the world, including the International Press Institute (IPI) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
In the 2000s, the NIJ underwent a major modernization effort, including the introduction of new technology and facilities, and the accreditation of its programs by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Over the years, the school has produced distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to the industry, including Simon Ateba, Deba Uwadiae, John Momoh, Abike Dabire, Sharon Ijasan and many others.
According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Tolulope Ojemuyiwa, NIJ’s commitment to excellence and its rich legacy continue to make it the preferred choice for students seeking a career in journalism.
He said, “NIJ’s reputation and branding have contributed in no small measures to its status as an institution of first choice in journalism education because of its topnotch practical training the students are exposed to from time to time and the quality of its faculty members who are trained, experienced and practicing media experts.The institution’s Post-Graduate Diploma programme has been a flagship offering, earning the school a strong reputation.”
Mr. Ojemuyiwa highlighted the unique qualities that distinguish the citadel of learning from other institutions, citing its rich history, state-of-the-art facilities, and strategic location.
“Many things set NIJ apart from other institutions offering Journalism In Nigeria. First, unlike other journalism institutions, NIJ is the only institution set up by a global organisation known as International Press Institute (IPI) situated in Vienna, Austria, and asides that the institution prides itself as Nigeria’s premier monotechnic in the heart of the capital of Lagos. The state of the art studios in the institution cannot be ruled out as one of the unique selling propositions (USP) of the school.
“With the unbundling of Mass Communication in tertiary institutions,NIJ now runs programmes in Journalism & Media Studies and Strategic Communication, and mobilises our HND graduate for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of mentorship and support for students in their academic pursuits, Dr. Jide Johnson, Director of Special Programmes at the school, emphasised that teaching is a calling and not just a profession.
“It’s very simple. One, if you take teaching as a call and not as a profession, then you would understand that teaching is ultimately for mentoring and helping people to discover themselves and maximize their God given talents and potentials,” Dr. Johnson remarked.
He explained that teaching transcends the classroom, citing counselling, mentorship and a parental role as additional opportunities for lecturers to shape students academically, morally and professionally, particularly in their chosen career paths.
The lecturer stressed that, “And we shouldn’t forget the spiritual perspective which says ‘train up a child in the way he should go and when he grows he will not depart from it’. It is the responsibility of any teacher to be part and parcel of a child’s life and then join intraining him or her to be a better person in the society.”
He advised aspiring journalists and prospective students to choose NIJ as it is the first journalism school in Africa and well-recognised as a centre of academic excellence.
“Firstly, we are the first journalism school in Africa and beyond that, we are well known for what we do here. We are a school that combines both the theory and the practical aspects of journalism . If You are looking for a school where you can combine both , then NIJ is the place to be.
“Secondly, our faculties is a mixture of what we call the town and gown. The town in the sense that people are actually practicing in the various discipline of mass communication, are part and parcel of our faculty and then the gown meaning that those that are trained in academics are part and parcel of our faculty so we have the right mix,” he explained.
He also pointed out that the school’s location in Lagos, the hub of journalism in Nigeria and Africa, provides students with opportunities to intern at various media organizations.
“And if you also look at it from the lecturer to student relationship, we maintain the United Nations standard with respect to ensuring that our students are divided into sections. You can’t have more than 40 students in a class . We are about one of the few schools that does that in the entire country and you can validate this by just taking a trip to tour school or visit unannounced and see this yourself. Our facilities are excellent and our teaching is top-notch. We stand out in all angles and this, no doubt, gives us a competitive advantage which gives our students a professional edge in becoming better journalists,” he further stated.
Commenting on success stories of past students of the monotechnic, the media practitioner said: “I can go on and on and talk about our students who have made their marks despite the discrimination againstHND holders as they have all made their marks in their respective disciplines in the journalism industry in Nigeria, and beyond the country. Most of the students I taught have now left the shores ofNigeria and are doing very well in their various journalistic fields. NIJ is no doubt the place to be.”
While revealing how NIJ prepared him for his current role in the journalism industry, Hope Ejairu, the Deputy Editor of The Lens Media and alumnus, recounted that he enrolled in the institute’s Diploma programme in 2019, few years after starting a career in the media sector.
“When I resumed lectures, I knew I was in the right place. The Combination of practical and theoretical teachings from the lecturers was perfect for me, and I began to incorporate them into my work immediately for personal development. The improvement was evident,and things haven’t been the same since then. I have improved tremendously, with works and appearances on notable platforms including Vanguard, Opera News, Rainbow FM, Top Radio, and so on. The improvement has played a significant role in me becoming theDeputy Editor of Thelensng,” Ejairu disclosed.
He acknowledged that he expanded his expertise while studying at NIJ, from which he graduated in 2024, highlighting the areas of improvement he experienced.
The journalist stated: “I acquired a lot of knowledge during my time at the school and I graduated in 2024. In fact, prior to my enrollment, a large percentage of my work revolved around sports, including writing sports content and scripts, and appearing on sports programmes. However, after spending some time at NIJ, the knowledge I gained helped me transition fully into covering other beats, such as politics,business, aviation, maritime, and others.
“This has enabled me to have over 900 published contents to my name across different online news outlets. I have managed three websites and also led several other projects over the years. So, I can confidently say that I benefited greatly from attending NIJ.”
Similarly, another alumnus, Mr. Bolu Opaniran, who is now the CEO of Edge Plus Creative, revealed that NIJ prepared him for life’s challenges, expressing gratitude to the school for its profound impact.
“I am currently into brands and communication and I am the CEO ofEdge Plus Creative, a branding management company. NIJ really prepared me ahead of life struggles and gave me the leverage that Ineeded. Right from school days, the interactions between myself and the lecturers were spot on because the likes of Mr. Jack Amaso was always there to mentor and lead me on,” Mr. Opaniran said.
The creative designer said, “The various competitions that we went for pushed me to be creative, leave my comfort zone and also to aim bigger. This played a huge role in me transitioning to the market place which was so seamless. I really love my NIJ experience and I can say for sure that the school is no doubt a part of my success story,”
On his part, Emmanuel Ashemiriogwa, a final year student of the school mentioned that he chose the institute because it aligned with his career priorities.
“I also appreciated the uninterrupted academic calendar of the school compared to universities where strikes could happen anytime,” Ashemiriogwa noted.
He added, “I’m in my final year currently and I’ve already garnered some experience through internships.”
Today, the NIJ is one of the leading journalism training institutions in Nigeria, offering a range of programs and services for journalists and media professionals.
