Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council has started working and mapping out plans to establish an International study Institute, library, as well as a newsroom that would serve as precursor to a robust practice, promote scholarly exercise and equip Journalists for the expansive Media space.
This was contained in a Press Release signed by the Secretary of the Union, Comrade Kunle Ewuoso on behalf of the Union Chairman, Comrade Soji Amosu, and made available to newsmen.
Ewuoso disclosed that the Union has decided to re-awaken the rested Abeokuta branch of International Institute of Journalism in the state as the Union has begun the search for a suitable location and place for its take off, slated for the first quarter of this year before building a permanent structure.
The Union under the leadership of Comrade Soji Amosu have seen the need to train and retrain practitioners of Journalism, as well as help the Nigerian nation produce many more thoroughbred professionals underscored the need to establish the institute.
According to the statement, the Union is also going to establish a hi tech newsroom where Journalists could sit comfortably to write their stories or features, interact among themselves, share knowledge, stories ideas with a view to promoting impeccable news dissemination which is also a way to fight against the rampant fake news
Amosu also stressed the need for the Union to have a hugely loaded and superbly equipped library with modern ICT gadgets that could help members to refresh and broaden their knowledge in Journalism, and avail the general public the opportunity to read about almost all fields of human calling, be it History, Medicine, Law, Architecture, Business, Economics, Government or Current Affairs.
"We plan to put in place a library that will not only serve the interests of members of our Union but also those of other members of the society. Iwe Irohin, being the cradle of Journalism in Nigeria, people should be able to walk in and read something about everything - topic or subjects", Amosu added.
He said the rejuvenated Iwe Irohin would have a hall of fame that would be open to the public in order to be able to read about the establishment of the first newspaper in Nigeria, the man who established it, Henry Townsend in 1859, as well as the history behind it.
"People should be able to walk in and read about the exploit of some doyens and frontrunners in Journalism, the likes of; Olusegun Osoba former M.D. of Daily Times; Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, former M.D. of Daily Times; Chief Obafemi Awolowo and how the Western Region established the first television station in Africa; His Royal Majesty, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale, who spent all his working life in Journalism; His Royal Majesty, Oba Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege who taught Journalism until he was installed as the Olota of Otta", he emphasised.
Amosu stated that he totally subscribed to the postulate, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", but quick to say, Iwe Irohin already has relaxation spots, but needed to have things that would promote scholarly exercise which he described as priority. "Iwe Irohin should be a resource centre of sort", he chipped.
Amosu said his administration would like to explore the possibility of connecting Iwe Irohin to the Police, NSCDC, Customs, Immigration headquarters, INEC office in the state and the Governor's office at Oke -Mosan so that Journalists wouldn't need in and out the Governor's office to source news, except for exigency.
"We want our colleagues to carry out their responsibilities with easy, in line with the aspiration and drive of the Governor Dapo Abiodun led administration which is exploring the easy of doing business in Ogun state.
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