The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, has announced that 707 students will graduate at its seventh convocation ceremony slated for Tuesday, May 6, 2025, with 60 of them earning distinction certificates.
The Provost of the institute, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, disclosed this at a press briefing on Wednesday, outlining the programme of events leading up to the convocation. He said the graduating students cut across the National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), and Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes.
A major highlight of the convocation will be the lecture to be delivered by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi. Scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025, the lecture is titled ‘AI and Public Governance’ and will take place at the Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Media Resource Centre.
Adefaye said the event is expected to draw scholars, media professionals, public servants, and other industry stakeholders to deliberate on the growing intersection between artificial intelligence and governance.
Veteran journalist and chairman of the NIJ Governing Council, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, will chair the convocation ceremony.
Reflecting on the current state of journalism education, Adefaye admitted that student admissions have declined in recent years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased competition from universities offering similar programmes. However, he reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to providing quality training in media and communication.
The Provost also highlighted funding as a key challenge. As a non-federal institution, NIJ is ineligible to access the national student loan scheme, despite making tax contributions to the fund.
“We encourage our students to embrace technology and artificial intelligence as tools for innovation and growth. We may also introduce AI-checking software to maintain academic integrity,” Adefaye added.
The convocation ceremonies are expected to further position the NIJ as a leading institution in journalism education, while also spotlighting the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of media.