The Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association (NIJAA) has elected a new National Executive Council (NEC) to lead the association for the next phase of its development, with 𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒖𝒚𝒊𝒘𝒂 𝑨𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆 emerging as National President.

The election, held on Sunday, August 23, 2026, produced a seven-member National Executive Council comprising:

𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒖𝒚𝒊𝒘𝒂 𝑨𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆, National President, 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂 𝑰𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑶𝒎𝒘𝒆𝒏, Vice President, 𝑫𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒋𝒊 𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒅𝒆-𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒋𝒊, General Secretary and 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒌𝒂 𝑵𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊, Assistant Secretary.

Others are 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑨𝒌𝒉𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒆, National Publicity Secretary, 𝑷𝒆𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒊 𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒎𝒊, Organizing Secretary and 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒈𝒃𝒆𝒎𝒊 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒆 as Legal Adviser.

In his acceptance speech, Akintunde thanked members for the confidence reposed in him and the new executive, describing their election as “a victory for every graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism who believes that our association, our institution and the journalism profession can attain greater heights.”

He commended the Caretaker Committee, led by 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 𝑰𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒖,

for successfully steering the affairs of the association over the past six months. He also applauded the Election Subcommittee, headed by 𝑫𝒓. 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒆 𝑶𝒍𝒂, for conducting what he described as a transparent and credible electoral process.

Akintunde paid tribute to the immediate past president, 𝑫𝒓. 𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒂 𝑨𝒘𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒏,and other past leaders whose contributions, he noted, had laid the foundations upon which successive administrations would continue to build.

In a gesture of inclusiveness, the new president also acknowledged 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊 and 𝑨𝒚𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒋𝒊 𝑨𝒌𝒆,

who contested the positions of National Publicity Secretary and Organising Secretary respectively. He said their decision to contest demonstrated a shared commitment to service and pledged that the ideas and promises advanced during the campaign would be carefully considered by the new administration.

Akintunde outlined a three-point agenda for the new administration: leadership that listens; welfare and opportunities for members; and a stronger NIJ and NIJAA image.

He pledged to deepen member participation through town hall meetings, surveys and chapter consultations, ensuring that the voices and concerns of members remain central to the association's decision-making process.

On welfare and professional development, he promised to pursue initiatives that would create employment and career opportunities, training, mentorship and welfare support for members.

He also pledged stronger support for the Nigerian Institute of Journalism through infrastructure development, scholarships and advocacy, while promoting the professionalism, relevance and dignity of NIJ-trained journalists.

Addressing NIJAA chapters and members across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Australia and other locations, Akintunde described the chapters as “the engine of the association” and called for collective ownership of the new administration.

He urged members to put the election behind them and unite around the task of rebuilding and repositioning the association.

His message was clear:

“We must move NIJAA from nostalgia to impact, from reunions to results.”

With the election of the new NEC, NIJAA now enters a new chapter — one that places greater emphasis on service, member welfare, professional development, institutional support and a stronger public identity for the association.

The challenge before the new leadership is now to transform the campaign promises into measurable action and ensure that the confidence placed in them by members translates into tangible results for NIJAA and the wider NIJ community.

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