๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ
The ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐,is taking steps to preserve the history and heritage of journalism in Ogun State with plans to establish a journalism museum in Abeokuta.
The initiative, which has received the backing of the ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐ (๐ท๐๐๐.) ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, is expected to preserve old newspapers, historical materials and an old printing machine connected with the history of ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐.
The project also resonates strongly within the ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ๐จ๐จ), with a number of NIJ alumni playing active roles within the League. Their involvement provides an additional link between the proposed museum and the wider professional heritage of journalism education and practice in Nigeria.
The initiative, unveiled during a recent courtesy visit by the Ogun State Chapter of the League to the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, represents an important effort to preserve the institutional memory of a profession that has played a defining role in Nigeria’s social and democratic development.
Particularly significant to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association (NIJAA) is the strong presence of NIJ alumni within the League and among those driving the initiative.
The League is led by its Chairman, ๐ด๐. ๐จ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,
himself a member of the NIJ Alumni Association. ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐ด๐. ๐ฌ๐
๐
๐ ๐จ๐๐๐; ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐
๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐
๐-๐จ๐
๐๐
๐๐๐; ๐๐๐
๐ด๐. ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐,
among others.
The proposed museum is envisaged for the proposed ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ site along Moshood Abiola Way, Abeokuta, and is expected to preserve old newspapers and other historical materials connected with the development of journalism. The League has also identified an old printing machine associated with the history of Iwe Irohin as a potential exhibit.
For NIJAA, the initiative resonates deeply with the Association’s renewed emphasis on reconnecting generations of journalism professionals and harnessing the experience and institutional knowledge of its members.
The story of Nigerian journalism cannot be told without recognising the pioneering role of Iwe Irohin, established in Abeokuta in the nineteenth century, and the generations of journalists who subsequently carried the profession forward. A museum dedicated to preserving that journey could therefore provide an important space for research, education and the transmission of professional history to younger generations.
The League’s intervention also goes beyond preserving physical artefacts. During the visit, its Chairman raised concerns about the spread of unprofessional journalism and misinformation, while advocating greater responsibility within the profession. The Olowu, in endorsing the proposed museum, similarly called for accountability and responsible journalism, including stronger efforts by experienced journalists to guide those coming behind them.
That emphasis on preservation, professionalism and mentorship makes the initiative particularly relevant to NIJโthe institution that has trained generations of Nigerian journalism and communications professionals.
It also demonstrates the value of alumni networks beyond reunions and social interaction. NIJ alumni continue to occupy influential positions across journalism, broadcasting, public relations, publishing and public service, and many are contributing their experience to initiatives that seek to strengthen the profession and preserve its heritage.
The proposed Journalism Museum is therefore more than a collection of old newspapers and obsolete equipment. Properly developed, it could become a living repository of Nigeria’s journalism storyโa place where students, researchers, practitioners and members of the public can encounter the people, publications, technologies and ideas that helped shape the country’s media history.
For NIJAA, the initiative is another reminder that the experience of its alumni is an important part of the Institute’s living heritage.
As the Association continues its drive to reconnect NIJ alumni across generations and across Nigeria, initiatives such as this show what becomes possible when professional experience, institutional memory and a commitment to the future are brought together.
NIJAA celebrates the Ogun State League of Veteran Journalists and its NIJ alumni members for keeping the flame of journalism history, professionalism and mentorship alive.
๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ๐จ๐จ โ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐.
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