The former Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr. Dele Omojuyigbe, has officially retired after two decades of dedicated service to the institution.
Dr. Omojuyigbe, who previously served as the founding Head of the Department of General Studies for ten years and as a chief lecturer at Nigeria’s foremost communication school, formally stepped down on Wednesday, March 19.
A retirement ceremony in his honor was held at the Adebutu Media Resource Center Hall on the NIJ campus. The event was chaired by former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina.
In his remarks, NIJ Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, highlighted Dr. Omojuyigbe’s pivotal role in shaping the institution.
“Dr. Omojuyigbe is a principled individual, a source of inspiration, and a guiding beacon. His values, ideas, and goals have been a motivating force at NIJ. He was the one who welcomed me here, and I worked with him for four years. I can confidently say he is a star,” Mr. Adefaye said.
He further noted that Dr. Omojuyigbe was instrumental in NIJ’s reformation 21 years ago and has left an indelible mark on the institution.
Similarly, Mr. Adesina praised the retiring academic, recalling their shared experiences as students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), formerly known as the University of Ife.
Dr. Omojuyigbe holds a doctorate in English from the University of Ibadan, specialising in Critical Discourse Analysis (Media Option). He earned his first and master’s degrees in English from OAU and the University of Lagos, respectively. He also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the Independent Journalism Centre, College of Journalism, Lagos.
His professional career includes nearly a decade (1989–1998) at Daily Times PLC, where he served as a teacher, writer, and acting editor of Headlines, a sister publication of Daily Times. In 1998, he joined Grapevine News Magazine as an associate editor before going on to publish Punch Report Journal. He became a lecturer at NIJ in 2004.
The ceremony’s guest lecturer, Dr. Dapo Thomas, a senior lecturer in Lagos State University’s Department of History and International Studies, spoke on “The Journalist and His Vanishing Dream: The End of an Intervention.”
Dr. Thomas urged media professionals to carve a niche for themselves, uphold integrity, and build personal brands. He emphasised the need for journalists to avoid unethical practices (brown envelope cartel), plan for the future, and diversify their income streams without compromising ethical standards.
The current Deputy Provost of NIJ, Dr. Adeboye Ola, and the Head of the Mass Communication Department, Mr. Mike Osuji, also gave farewell messages, commending Dr. Omojuyigbe’s impact on the institution and their personal lives.
Dr. Omojuyigbe’s retirement comes a year after he launched his ninth book titled “NIJ’s Inside Story… From My Lenses… The Beauty, The Bend”.
In response to the heartfelt tributes, the retired academic expressed his gratitude, revealing that the ceremony was a surprise.
“I was only hinted about it, so this is truly overwhelming. I’m grateful to my family, colleagues, and everyone who took the time to say something about me today,” he said.
To mark his send-off, NIJ presented him with a certificate of service and a special gift. Students also honored him with spoken-word performances, poetry recitations, and musical renditions.
The event was attended by notable figures, including the President of the NIJ Alumni Association, Dr. Olusanya Awosan; Associate Lecturer and Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin; faculty and academic board members of NIJ; lecturers; family members; friends of Dr. Omojuyigbe; students; and members of the press.
