PHOTOS: Wale Edun, Osoba present as Kessington donates media resource centre to NIJ

Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of economy, and Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun state, were among the dignitaries present at  the inauguration of the Adebutu Kessington Media Resource Centre at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos.

Kessington, a philanthropist, donated the multi-million naira project to the journalism school on Wednesday.

The centre, which includes a 350-capacity hall, was donated to NIJ to enhance the training of budding journalists in Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Edun commended Kessington for his gesture in promoting access to education in Nigeria.

He stated that the billionaire’s contribution to education is in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.

“That is a mark of your contribution. He is a notable philanthropist, and he lived up to his billing as a pillar. What he has done will stylishly help us with the third pillar of the vision,” he said.

“We say the first is access. And it is the commitment of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu — to give access to education from all. And of course the institutions being with the issue of curriculum. Infrastructure is also important to education. And that is the beauty.”

On his part, Osoba, who is the chair of NIJ governing council, hailed Kessington for his contributions to the growth of journalism in Nigeria.

Gbenga Adefaye, the provost of NIJ, also appeciated the gesture from Kessington, describing it as an “opportunity to nurture future journalists with relevant skills”.

Ladi, the son of Kessington who spoke on behalf of his father, expressed his admiration on the project, adding that it is an extension of his family’s heritage.

Other personalities present at the commissioning were members of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) led by Ray Ekpu, Ralph Akinfeleye, Gbenga Omotoso, the commissioner for information and strategy representing Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Bisi Olatilo, and Steve Ayorinde, the ace journalists. 

See some of the photos from the event: