Media Profession: Wale Ojo Lanre Advocates Development Journalism 

… Obtains IIJ Admission Forms For Two 

By Joseph Sunday 

A former two times Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council and the current Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, has advocated for a true development journalism as he bought International Institute of Journalism forms for two prospective students.

Ojo described the introduction of development journalism as the latest way of sustaining and strengthening the focus on national development and responsible governance in the Country. 

Ojo-Lanre made this observation while obtaining two application forms for prospective students of the International Institute of Journalism, Ado-Ekiti Campus, from Mr. Dare Daniels, the Coordinator of the IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus.

According to him, journalism remains a professional discipline that requires structured training, ethical grounding, and continuous capacity building, stressing that the ability to write simple English does not automatically translate to professional journalism practice.

 _“Anybody who understands simple English can write, but not everyone who writes can claim to be a professional journalist. Writers must be trained,”_ he stated.

The former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, emphasised that Nigeria needs journalists who are development-focused, ethically driven, and intellectually equipped to interpret governance, economy, culture, and social change for the public.

Barrister Ojo-Lanre also called on the management of the Institute to update its curriculum to reflect emerging global trends, urging the full integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Journalism into IIJ training programmes. He noted that modern journalism now relies heavily on digital tools, data analytics, AI-assisted research, and multimedia storytelling, warning that failure to adapt could render journalism education obsolete.

He described IIJ as a critical institution in shaping journalists who are not just reporters of events, but agents of national development and accountability.

In his response, Mr. Dare Daniels Coordinator of the IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus, commended Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development and an alumnus of the IIJ Abuja Campus, for his sustained commitment to the growth of the Institute.

Dare Daniels praised Ojo-Lanre’s consistent adherence to ethics and professionalism in media practice, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the Institute and a strong advocate for quality journalism education in Nigeria.

He emphasized the Institute’s continued commitment to quality journalism training and the development of media practitioners who will contribute meaningfully to national development.