After a brief hiatus, the Literally Club in The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) has rebranded into “Jollof Walls”, gearing away from conventional writing to creative storytelling under a fresh set of leadership.
The club has a long history of nurturing talented journalists and media professionals. One aspect of the institute’s vibrant campus life was the NIJ Literary Club. However, the decline of the NIJ Literary Club, a once-thriving community of creative activity, left a void in the school’s extracurricular affairs.
Co-founder of the NIJ Literary Club, Noah Aderoju, reflected on the club’s heyday. “We had weekly meetings and publications, where we reported on school events and issues. We also had investigative reports, social media platforms, and interviews with notable figures,” he said.
The club’s achievements and impact were evident, but its decline was inevitable.
Aderoju attributed the club’s decline to a combination of factors. He said, “The school’s academic workload is intense, and students have little time for extracurricular activities. Additionally, the club’s leadership issues and lack of continuity contributed to its decline. “Despite efforts to revive the club, it eventually stopped functioning.”
The decline of the NIJ Literary Club left a gap in the school’s creative activities. However, a new community has emerged to fill this gap. Jollof Walls, founded by Temilade Alonge and Kelvin Umoh in HND1 class, is a platform for artists, storytellers, and creatives to express themselves.
According to Alonge, “We want Jollof Walls to be a platform where students can experience creativity beyond academics. We have writers and people involved across all levels, we also have lecturers involved (Mr. Jack Amaso and Dr.Jide Johnson) We really just want students to experience a fun way to live beyond study and more study. We want a space where students feel seen and heard.”
Jollof Walls’ approach sets it apart from other creative communities. Alonge emphasized that, “We want to tell real-life stories in a very relatable way. You are still yourself being in the community while we also say things as they are.”
The community’s plans include a campus takeover, where members will showcase their work and creativity.
Speaking on the objective of the new club, she said, “We are currently planning a campus takeover where members of our community get to identify with us through our branded merch.
“When you think of Jollof walls, think of other brands like time walls, New York Street, Wall Street Journal, because that’s what Jollof Walls aspire to be.”
The takeover is just one of the many initiatives Jollof Walls has planned. Alonge also mentioned, “We also have in the works a preparation of a bi-annual event “WALL OF FAME” where we spotlight different people.” The community’s focus on creativity, personal growth, and community building is inspiring a new generation of creatives.
Alonge’s vision for Jollof Walls is ambitious. “I’ve always been interested in press and literary clubs right from primary school and so when I came across the poster of NIJ literary club on my way to the office, I went ahead to check them out on IG and I figured that they were inactive.”
This experience sparked her desire to create a new community that would fill the gap left by the NIJ Literary Club.
As Jollof Walls continues to grow and evolve, Alonge remains committed to her vision. She emphasized the importance of creating a sustainable and self-sufficient community.
As Jollof Walls looks to the future, Alonge remains focused on her goals. “We want to test many waters, but we don’t want to test many waters all at once. We want to take it one step at a time, as we write.”
Pelumi Oresanya
