Education

“It Is Never Too Late To Have A New Dream,” Otunba TJ Abass Reflects On Unyielding Journalism Dream

Published

3 years ago

Dec 2, 2021.

Aremo of Epe Land, Otunba TJ Abass has admonished the younger generation never to pipe their dreams and aspirations on the altar of procrastination and self-doubt but to strive unremittingly towards achieving their life’s goals even when the odds of time and the vicissitudes of life are stacked against them.

The publisher of Lagos based news outlet, Eko Hot Blog, was speaking during the occasion of the 6th Convocation/50th-anniversary ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism held on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Harking back on his unyielding desire to acquire a degree in journalism even in the twilight years of his life, the seasoned finance mogul recalled how he had defied the optics of furthering his educational pursuit at a time many of his contemporaries had long sheathed their quills.

NUJ Lagos Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi to the left, Dr Abisogun Leigh, Former VC LASU, in the middle

He described the moment as a dream come true, the crowning moment of one of his greatest passions in life.

The former President of Lagosian Diaspora community, Eko Club International, USA, CANADA & EUROPE, also enjoined the up and coming generation to take a leaf from his own playbook and never throw in the towel on their dreams despite the daunting challenges and hoops that will naturally characterise the quest.

“Congratulations to everybody, to me and to all those out there that are aspiring to be in this position. It’s never too late to have a new dream,” Mr Abass said to a slew of reporters.”

“The day you stop learning that is when you’re old from the time you are born to the time that you die, it’s a continuous process. So today, I feel fulfilled; I feel accomplished to be here because this is a dream come true. I’ve had many moments like this, but this is the ultimate because it is something that I’ve always had a passion for.”

Tolu Ojemuyiwa, Otunba T.J Abass,Adeleye Ajayi, Dr Abisogun Leigh, Akin Ojo.

“I’ve worked in the corporate world; I’ve been successful. I have an established, successful insurance business, real estate business, Health Care Outfit, Stock Brokerage Firm, Tax & Audit Firm. Still, all those things were done for monetary gratification, for pecuniary reasons, not things that I really love. So, upon retirement, I had to decide what do I really want to do? It is time for me to pursue something that I have always dreamt of doing. So I came to NIJ for a post-graduate diploma in journalism.

It is so funny when I came to the school people were calling me grandpa. I tried to adjust, blend in my little way, with a baseball cap, with a backpack, but it didn’t work, people were still calling me grandpa, but they are all wonderful people. I’m glad that I’m able to get to this point.” I would not have been able to get to this point without God’ grace and the support of my classmates, the faculty staff of this great citadel of learning.

“To all the younger generation, if you have any goal out there, don’t just sit down on your laurels. Go out there and pursue it. I’m a typical example.

By the way, I was one of those people that had a distinction in broadcasting.

At my age, every time, I was always in the library reading. But I’m not where I’m supposed to be yet. I want to be one of the best, prolific writers, but I’m not there yet. I will continue to seek for knowledge.”

“I also want to thank the people who have helped shape my life, my children and grandchildren—all my lecturers. One of them is Dr Jide J J Johnson, Dr Quasim Akinreti, Mrs Maureen Popoola, Mr Cami Ezenwa, Dr Dele Omojuyigbe, to mention a few. They have actually helped me to become who I am today. I thank God. I feel fulfilled, I feel accomplished, and congratulations to me.”

Also buttressing the message, Dr Jide Johnson, a distinguished academician at the Institute, encouraged the younger generation to model their lives, hopes, dreams and aspirations after Otunba’s example.

“Eko Hot Blog is a by-product of NIJ; Otunba came for this exercise, that’s why it is not too late for you to learn.

The life of Otunba is an inspiration for those younger ones out there who think that they are too old to learn.

Otunba came to run this programme in NIJ, and we can see what Eko Hot Blog has done. It has led to the securing of a radio license for Epe, and that’s what NIJ is all about. We equip and prepare you for the industry and also help you to catch the vision, the kind of change we can bring about in the society,” he said.

Dr Johnson also lauded the institution for its commitment to its fundamental objective of producing fully-fledged journalists with an ample understanding of the media mandate of serving as the watchdog of society.

When you come to this institution, we equip you, we develop you, and we release you to maximise your potential, and that’s what we are doing today, we are releasing close to about a thousand students to maximise their potentials to bring about the best in the industry and turn around the media industry.

You know there can never be national development without democracy; the media is critical to national development. That’s why section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, made an exclusive provision for the media that the media shall be the watchdog of the society and shall hold the government accountable.

So the media has twin responsibilities – one, the watchdog of the society, two, holding the government accountable, and how best can you hold the government responsible? By letting the government do the right thing and doing the watchdog role and not the lap dog.

Over 908 graduands received certificates in different areas of study in the convocation ceremony that was preceded by a convocation lecture delivered by the executive governor of Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Fayemi.

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