The Executive Committee of The Great 1986 Nigeria Institute of Journalism, NIJ Class, which was recently elected and inaugurated, has pledged to exploit members’ connections, reach and resources to enhance and better their circumstances, while also ensuring that their well-being would be the paramount concern of the body.
The group is made up of the full-time Diploma in Journalism class, which graduated from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in 1986.
Delivering his inaugural address, the pioneer Chairman, Mr. Muyiwa Akintunde expressed gratitude to his classmates for the confidence reposed in the Executive Committee, which was elected at the Annual General Meeting of the group on Sunday, 18 May 2025, and assured that the leadership team would not take their trust for granted.
According to a statement on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uzoma Isiakpu, the Chairman pledged his committee’s resolve to operate at all times in the best interest of the group, stressing that the management body would be fair to all by listening to them and acting accordingly.
Akintunde, who is a Public Relations consultant and online newspaper publisher, assured that the Executive Committee would commit itself to upholding and defending the collective values of the group. But, when necessary, it would make difficult decisions for the greater good of members.
The Chairman said that a Welfare Committee to process requests from members and make recommendations on how to assist them, based on agreed guidelines, would soon be constituted.
In furtherance to that, Akintunde said that a committee would report to the house on the appropriate insurance scheme that would enable the group to manage medical and related health conditions of members.
The chairman said that another committee would also be in charge of planning for the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of members’ graduation from the NIJ, which comes up in the second half of next year.
He further said that a task force to mobilise members who were yet to identify with the group was in the offing and appealed to members to cooperate with the team in carrying out its assignment.
Other officers elected to pilot the affairs of The Great 1986 NIJ Class are: Mrs. Tina Mordi-Aimufua (Vice Chairman), Pastor Fola Williams Ojo (General Secretary), Mr. Frank Jumbo (Assistant General Secretary), Ms. Yemisi Sofolahan (Treasurer), Mr. Adeyinka Badewa; (Financial Secretary), Mr. Uzoma Isiakpu (Public Relations Officer) and Mr. Taye Ige (Welfare/Social Secretary).
The inauguration was supervised by a planning committee, which organised a reunion last Easter Monday and also ran the association, including conducting the election of officers into the executive committee. It was chaired by Mr. Sam Uko with other members being Otunba Gbenga Onayiga, Jumbo, Sofolahan and Akintunde.
