The Founder of the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), Sir Kesington Adebutu, has laid the foundation for a 350-seater Media Resource Centre at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ).
Speaking at laying the foundation, Adebutu said he is financing the project 100 per cent. Adebutu, represented at the event by Aare Kola Oyefeso, said the project would be completed within the next four months.
Adebutu said the resource centre will improve the future of journalism in Nigeria and serve as a research centre for all. He said: “Whatever KAAF is doing here is one of several ongoing projects. We have projects at UNILAG, we have at Ibadan and we have across the land.
“But when NIJ approached Adebutu two years ago about this project, he told them that we are going to start this project when it’s going to be financed 100 per cent. And the project is being financed 100 per cent today and saved for the time of construction.
“By the grace of God, nothing is going to stop us from coming here in September to commission it. I want to congratulate the Provost, the chairman, the board, and everybody connected with this project. I want to appreciate them.
“I am part and parcel of journalism, but you may not know, I was the Chairman of Compass Newspapers when the provost was the President of NUJ and whatever I am doing today is just a continuation of what we have started.
“That said, by God’s grace, we should always return our glory to God. The good Lord has started this project, and by God’s grace, we shall all be here in a couple of months for the commissioning.”
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council, Olusegun Osoba, said this is the first time an individual is donating this kind of infrastructure to the institution.
Osoba, who was represented by Lanre Ogundipe, said: “I must say that today is an important occasion in the sense that since this institute was founded today we are having someone who is donating to us 350-seater centre at no extra cost.
“It is an added value advantage for the profession of journalism in Nigeria and I must commend the provost and his team for being a serious task to ensure that this project gets on the ground.
“The board under the leadership of Olusegun Osoba is working relentlessly to ensure that this school moves from the present status to a degree-awarding institution. I assure you that in the next couple of months, we will see that development. Ghana Institute, and Kenya Institute, are far behind, but today, they are the pre-awarding institutions.
“This institution is bound to come up with something greater in the foreseeable future. And to you students, I just say congratulations to you all, because all your peers that have passed through this place and your seniors did not enjoy what you are about to enjoy in this institute.”
