By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Kensington Adebukola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF) has inaugurated a Special Media Resource Centre in Lagos aimed at enhancing journalism and fostering societal development.
The event, which was held in Lagos yesterday, signalled a new frontier for journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria, as the construction of the 350-seater Media Resource Centre donated to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) gathered momentum.
The Founder of KAAF, Sir Kensington Adebutu, articulated the Foundation’s commitment to empowering the press, and by extension, democracy. “This is just the beginning, and we urge others to do more of this because when you empower the press, you empower democracy.”
He added that the project has been fully financed and is expected to be completed by September for commissioning.
Adebutu, who was represented by the Foundation’s ambassador, Arekola Oyefeso, further emphasised the profound impact of such initiatives on the future of journalism in Nigeria, saying, “The impact is huge. It is going to improve whatever that is being learned. As a resource centre, it is a place that one can go and conduct research and improve whatever you are doing. It will definitely improve the course of journalism in Nigeria.”
Oyefeso added that the Foundation aims to extend its impact across all sectors, including commerce, education, healthcare, and politics, without bias towards any affiliation. “Whoever approaches Sir Adebutu, he gives back without thinking twice.” This is even as he appealed to well placed individuals in society to sustain such initiative by giving back to society.
On his part, Lanre Ogundipe, representative of Chairman, NIJ Governing Council, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, expressed gratitude to KAF and hailed the project as an added value advantage to journalism in Nigeria.
He expressed confidence in NIJ’s potential to evolve into a degree-awarding institution, positioning Nigeria as a leader in journalism education within the West Africa sub-region.
“Nigeria should lead by example in the practical terms of journalism, and that is why the Board under Aremo Olusegun Osoba is working relentlessly to ensure that this school moves from the present status to a degree awarding institution.
“I assure you, in the next couple of months, you will see that development. Ghana and Kenya institutes were far behind us, but today, they are degree awarding institutions.”