- Commends Four-Point Agenda on Unity, Welfare, Professional Growth and Media Impact
The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria) has congratulated Olumuyiwa Akintunde on his election as National President of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association (NIJAA), describing the outcome as an opportunity to reposition the association as a stronger platform for the media profession.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Chairman of GIMP-Nigeria’s Governing Board, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, said Akintunde’s emergence was a welcome development that could strengthen professional development, member welfare, mentorship and engagement across Nigeria’s media industry.
Abdulmalik singled out the four-point agenda unveiled by the incoming NIJAA leadership — Unity and Welfare, Professional Growth and Mentorship, Institutional Support, and Voice and Impact — as evidence of a clear grasp of the resources available within the alumni community.
“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,” Abdulmalik said, adding that the timing called for stronger institutions, deeper professional solidarity, and credible voices to defend ethical journalism.
The GIMP-Nigeria chairman said the new leadership’s emphasis on unity was especially significant given the need for journalists to work across professional, religious, ethnic and geographical boundaries in support of national cohesion. He noted that the Guild’s own mission — promoting interfaith understanding and responsible media engagement — aligns closely with NIJAA’s vision for its professional network.
Abdulmalik also welcomed Akintunde’s commitment to mentorship, internships, masterclasses and closer links between alumni, students and employers, arguing that the future of Nigerian journalism depends on experienced professionals investing in the next generation.
“Every generation of media professionals has a responsibility to prepare the generation coming behind it,” he said, describing the proposed programmes as a bridge between the classroom and the newsroom.
He further praised NIJAA’s pledge to support the Nigerian Institute of Journalism directly, calling it a demonstration of gratitude and collective responsibility, and said an alumni body should function as an active partner to the institution rather than merely a reunion platform.
The GIMP-Nigeria chairman backed NIJAA’s ambition to become a credible voice on media policy, press freedom and ethical journalism, stressing that the profession must uphold truth, fairness and sensitivity given its strategic role in Nigeria’s democracy.
“Media practitioners are not only reporters of events; they are also builders of public understanding,” Abdulmalik said, noting that the language used and issues amplified by journalists can either deepen divisions or foster understanding.
Abdulmalik urged the new National Executive Council to convert its agenda into practical, measurable programmes and called on NIJ alumni across Nigeria and the diaspora to actively support the incoming leadership.
“Leadership cannot succeed in isolation,” he said, adding that the success of the new administration would depend on participation from the entire alumni community.
He closed by wishing Akintunde and the newly elected executives a successful tenure and pledged GIMP-Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with NIJAA on initiatives promoting peace journalism, interfaith dialogue, ethical media practice and national unity.
