Hope of Resurrecting NIJ Professional Forum

By: Tijani Ezekiel A. 

The students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) have been placed in a dark corner as regard the boycotting of the professional forum, which was introduced by the school management as a culture to be held every first Wednesday of the month.

The professional forum, which was mandated for all students of the institute, has been a form of guardians, as the school tends to bring sophisticated personalities, who relate their experience, success and failure on the field of journalism to the students. With no doubt, this has helped in straightening their chances on the field of journalism, as well as to open their eyes to opportunities and steps to greatness.

However, the likes of Google Manager for Communications and Public Affairs, Anglo-Phone West Africa, Taiwo Kolade-Ogunlade; Managing Director, Continental Broadcasting Service, Richard (Richie) Dayo Johnson; Director For Micro-Soft Nigeria, Edmond Idokoko; Former Editor-In-Chief, Daily Times of Nigeria, Prince Henry Odukomaiya, and several amiable personalities, as overtime stormed the campus for the forum.

Over time, the professional forum has always been a form of empowerment to the students, and of which has helped them to meet some of their motivational and inspirational mentors, who also provide chance for face-to face communication. Little wonder on effect the scrapping would have had on students.

Although, all things been equal, as the institute consists of some students, who attends the forum for the knowledge sake, it is certain that some ensure their presence merely for the sake of having their names written on attendance, so as to avoid tears that result could bring when it knocks at the door. But, could this be the reason why the forum was scrapped? Well! One might affirm that the tenacity of the quote, which says; "all things that has a beginning has an end" has affected the forum, without leaving a genuine reason behind.

Surely! There would be a light of seeing the forum again at the end of the tunnel, as the School Management disclosed that the professional forum was not dismissed from the school campus, but, the plans to make it 'big' has been the bouncer obstructing students from seeing the shadow of the forum, in the institute. “Soon, some influential personalities would storm the revitalized professional forum,” but the 'when would this be?' This cannot be disclosed yet, as the school management really wants it to amazingly surprise the students, who would witness the forum's resurrection.