Mr Olumuyiwa Akintunde, President, Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association, NIJAA
The newly elected President of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association, NIJAA, Lagos, Mr Muyiwa Akintunde, has pledged not to leave any alumni member behind in his resolve to execute a four-cardinal-point program, which will serve as a pillar towards an impactful tenure he envisioned for both the graduate alumni of the doyen institute of Journalism in Africa and its undergraduate students
Mr Akintunde pledged in his acceptance speech, after an election that granted access to all graduates of the institute worldwide, to make choices of those they wanted to oversee their affairs as graduates of the citadel of journalism in Nigeria
He said the first of the four pillars to be erected as the foundation for the success of his tenure was to ensure that “NIJAA must be home for every graduate, whether you are in Lagos, London, or Abuja. We will strengthen our chapters, create a functional alumni database, and launch welfare initiatives that support members in times of need”.
Akintunde, who was a 1986 graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, said the second pillar of his administration’s goal was to ensure the gown meets the town as often as possible.
He explained that the goal would be achieved “through masterclasses, internships, job boards, and mentorship; we will ensure that today’s NIJ student becomes tomorrow’s media leader. Our alumni have the experience. It is time we poured it back”, Akintunde said.
The newly elected NIJAA president identified the third figurative pillar his administration would erect as institutional support to the institute as a corporate entity, its students, and the graduates who ostensibly would be in the fold of the alumni association.
Akintunde, who was once editor of Guardian Newspapers, gave the rationale for why his exco would go this route thus: “NIJ gave us our foundation. We must give back. We will partner with the Institute and the Governing Council to support infrastructure, equipment, training, and fundraising for NIJ. A strong NIJ means a stronger NIJAA”, he said.
The fourth pillar in laying a strong foundation for the alumni association to thrive and become relevant as media practitioners and nation builders, he identified as a voice and an impact.
Akintunde enunciated how the fourth factor, which was two-pronged, would be achieved thus: “As communicators, our voice matters. NIJAA will be a credible voice on media policy, press freedom, ethical practice, and national discourse. We will not be silent when journalism is under threat”.
He reminded his National Executive Council (NEC) members that the brand-new team had clutched onto a plough and there was no looking back but to press on in erecting figuratively those strong four pillars on which both the short-term and long-term goals of a virile and impactful alumni association would thrive and become a toast for students and graduates alike.
The President sent a clarion call to all graduates of NIJ to stand and be counted in the onerous task toward the lofty goals the new NEC had set out to achieve, saying, “NIJAA belongs to all of us. I am calling on you to join committees, attend meetings, pay dues, and bring ideas”.
The electoral committee that conducted the free and fair election, which in no way disenfranchised any member, as votes were cast from all six continents of the world without rancour or opprobrium, was headed by Adeboye Ola, PhD, Chairman, Electoral Committee.
The election was held on Friday and Saturday, 21st and 22nd of August 2026. The acceptance speech was virtually delivered on Sunday, 23rd August 2026, signalling the commencement of the tenure of the new national executive council of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association (NIJAA).
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