*Commends four-point agenda on unity, welfare, professional growth and media impact
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria, GIMP-Nigeria, Mr. Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, has congratulated Mr. Olumuyiwa Akintunde on his election as the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association, NIJAA.
In a congratulatory message issued on Monday, Mr. Abdulmalik described Akintunde’s emergence as a welcome development and a new opportunity to reposition the NIJ Alumni Association as a strong platform for professional development, member welfare, mentorship and constructive engagement with the wider Nigerian media industry.
The GIMP-Nigeria Governing Board Chairman particularly commended the new NIJAA President for unveiling a four-point agenda anchored on Unity and Welfare; Professional Growth and Mentorship; Institutional Support; and Voice and Impact.
According to Abdulmalik, the agenda reflects a clear understanding of the enormous human and professional resources available within the NIJ alumni community and the need to harness such resources for the benefit of members, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and the journalism profession as a whole.
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“On behalf of the Governing Board, management and members of the Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria, I warmly congratulate Mr. Olumuyiwa Akintunde on his well-deserved election as the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association.
“His emergence comes at a significant moment when the media profession requires stronger institutions, deeper professional solidarity, effective mentorship for younger practitioners and credible voices capable of defending ethical journalism and promoting responsible national discourse,” he said.
Abdulmalik said the emphasis placed by the new NIJAA leadership on unity was particularly important in an era when journalists and communication professionals must work across professional, religious, ethnic and geographical boundaries in pursuit of national cohesion and development.
He noted that the Guild, whose work is dedicated to promoting interfaith understanding, peaceful coexistence and responsible media engagement, shares NIJAA’s vision of using professional networks and communication platforms as instruments for positive social transformation.
The GIMP-Nigeria Chairman also welcomed Akintunde’s commitment to mentorship, internships, masterclasses, job opportunities and stronger links between alumni, students and employers.
He said the future of Nigerian journalism depends substantially on the willingness of experienced professionals to deliberately invest their knowledge, experience and networks in the next generation.
“Every generation of media professionals has a responsibility to prepare the generation coming behind it,” Abdulmalik said, adding that “The proposed mentorship and professional development programmes offer an opportunity to bridge the gap between the classroom and the newsroom, between learning and practice, and between young professionals and the experienced practitioners who can guide them.”
Abdulmalik further commended the proposed institutional support for the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, describing it as an important demonstration of gratitude and collective responsibility.
He said an alumni association should not merely serve as a meeting point for former students but should become an active partner in strengthening the institution that helped shape their professional lives.
The GIMP-Nigeria Governing Board Chairman also expressed support for NIJAA’s ambition to become a credible voice on media policy, press freedom, ethical journalism and national discourse.
According to him, the media occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s democracy and social relations and must therefore continue to uphold the highest standards of truth, fairness, responsibility and sensitivity.
“Media practitioners are not only reporters of events; they are also builders of public understanding,” Abdulmalik said, while emphasizing that “The language we use, the issues we amplify and the way we report conflicts can either deepen divisions or encourage understanding. This is why ethical journalism, responsible reporting and respect for Nigeria’s diversity must remain central to the future of our profession.”
He urged the newly elected National Executive Council of NIJAA to translate its inspiring agenda into practical and measurable programmes that would touch the lives of alumni and strengthen the Institute.
Abdulmalik also called on NIJ alumni across Nigeria and the Diaspora to support the new leadership, participate actively in the affairs of the association and contribute their experience, ideas and professional networks to its renewal.
“Leadership cannot succeed in isolation,” he said, adding that the success of this new administration would depend not only on the commitment of the elected executives but also on the collective participation of the entire alumni community. “The new chapter must therefore belong to every NIJ graduate.”
Wishing Akintunde and the newly elected NEC a successful tenure, Abdulmalik expressed GIMP-Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with NIJAA and other professional media bodies on initiatives that would promote peace journalism, interfaith dialogue, ethical media practice and national unity.
The GIMP-Nigeria Chairman said the Guild looks forward to a vibrant NIJ Alumni Association that would continue to harness the influence and experience of its members in advancing journalism, professional excellence and the public good.
“We congratulate Mr. Olumuyiwa Akintunde and the entire newly elected leadership of NIJAA. May this new beginning truly become a chapter of unity, service, professional renewal and enduring impact,” Abdulmalik said.
