The atmosphere was filled with emotional rejoicing and moment to give thanks to the maker of life when a group of classmates who held the ace between 1991 and 1993 at the foremost journalism school in Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) came together for a reunion in Lagos at the weekend.
The LASCOFED on WEMCO Road, Ogba was electrified with exchange of banters, jokes and gists of yesteryears when these former students saw each other again in the last 30 years ago after graduation from NIJ.
The story was the same. How life has been faired to them, and how God has made them to see a day for the 91/93 Set to have moment of reunion.
Masterminded by Segun Otokiti, with facilitating support from Kunle Aderemi and Sunday Aborisade, the reunion saw a considerable number of attendance from the old students, both Nigeria-based and those based in the Diaspora.
After moment of wining and dining, an elated Otokiti enjoined the meeting to give a one-minute silence for the departed members of the class, even as he gave all glory to God for sparing the life of others who came for the meeting and those who could not make the reunion.
He specifically eulogised and applauded the contribution of the late Johnson Afolayan who did so much to ensure that the 91/93 Set of the NIJ formed a formidable alumni before he died.
“We need to bring this alumni spirit back to life for the benefit of all of us irrespective of where we may be across the world.
“I am indeed happy with the level of attendance and I strongly believe that this first meeting, which is being held few days into the New Year, will usher in a rebirth and new direction for the alumni,” Otokiti said.
A Protem executive committee was unanimously agreed to handle the affairs of the association pending the convenient time when there would be a larger house when a well-constituted Executive Committee of the alumni would be inaugurated.
Members of the Protem Executives include Segun Otokiti (Protem President), Kunle Aderemi (Co-President, UK), Fatai Oshun (Co-President, USA) and Sunday Aborisade (Protem Secretary)
Others are Ronke Afolayan (Protem Financial Secretary, Ronke Sosanya Nee Oyetunji (Protem Social Secretary) and Jide Apete (Protem Public Relations Officer).
The meeting suggested that physical meeting would be held twice in a year which will fall during Christians and Muslims festive periods.
It was also agreed that Zoom Meeting could be convened at any other time at the convenience of the old students who are currently living within and outside the country.
