The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) has collaborated with the Guild of Photojournalists Nigeria (GPN) to celebrate the 2024 World Photography Day.
The event was held on Monday, at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos.
The 2024 edition of the World Photography Day was dedicated to raising young individuals, who were described as “future Photojournalists”, in the art of photography.
At the event, photojournalists across different media platforms started the day with a photo-walk from Ojodu to Ogba, Lagos.
While touching down at NIJ, Mr. Kunle Ajayi, a senior photojournalist at Daily Independent, took the participants round for the exhibition.
After the exhibition, Dr. Boye Ola, Deputy Provost of the institution, welcomed the participants to the institution while emphasing the importance of the World Photography Day.
Dr. Ola described the celebration, in conjuction with NIJ, as “a way of putting future journalists together and also enlighten them”.
“It is deliberate. When we talk about photography, we talk about the cogent language, sign language that is spoken. And going around the exhibition ground you would have noticed photographs taken by our colleagues, photographers who have passed through NIJ,” he said.
“Those are physical things that we all can see. And for me, because we are also having young ones among us. In welcoming you, I would like you to know what NIJ is into. We are a communication institution where put together and train future communicators be it in area of Advertising, Public Relations, Broadcast and Print Journalism. That is writing either in newspapers, magazines, or online. But the line is closing. We are talking more of communicators. And we tell our students to be prepared for the challenges of the world that is narrow.
“Most of the professional journalists are now facing the reality of the multimedia world that we are in. An environment when multi-tasking is the order of the day. You may not be a fantastic writers, you must be able to take good pictures.
“With the partnership that we have established today, we can assure you that years to come, we will do more than what we have done. That beyond taking photographs, we must show the people that we are also enlightening them.”
On his part, Mr. Abiodun Ajala, President of GPN, emphasised the “exceptional impact” of photography in the world of journalism.
The ace photojournalist said the World Photography Day allows photographers “to share their ideas, innovations and promote publication between and among people from different cultures and countries”.
“Every year, photography lovers come together to participate in a global celebration. From the scene, behind the camera, to the history of photography. World Photography Day is fantastic for photographers all around the world to share their ideas, innovations. It also promotes publication, between people from different cultures and countries,” he said.
The keynote speaker, Mr. Akintunde Akinleye, a renowned and award winning photojournalist shed more light on the argument and criticism of photojournalism.
The photography day celebration hosted dignitaries from reputable conventional and online media including ThisDay, New Telegraph, and Daily Independent.
Miss Aanuoluwapo Adedeji, the 10-year-old Nigerian climate photographer, was named the ambassador of the guild.
