GIJ launches multimillion-dollar endowment fund

The governing board of the Ghana Institute of Journalism has approved a US$100 million endowment fund to herald the school’s 60th anniversary.

The initiative will facilitate the set up of a modern-day Digital Media Hub that will include a broadcasting studio, an audiovisual center, and an e-library.

According to Dr. Lawrencia Agyepong, Chairperson of the13-member, Anniversary Planning Committee, the fund will be launched at a formal event at the school’s new site at Shiashie in Accra, on Friday, March, 1, 2019.

Key stakeholders expected to participate in the event, includes, Corporate Organisations, Alumni body, Ministry of Education and Communication, Governing Council, Academic Staff, Media Industry, Ghana Journalists Association, National Media Commission, Students and Institute of Public Relations, Ghana.

Given the vital role that the media plays in any successful democracy, generous support and contributions from the government, business community, and philanthropists, will go a long way to help sustain Ghana’s laudable democratic successes.

The Media plays a catalytic role in the democracy and development of any nation, primarily through meaningful and free public participation. If the media fails or is inhibited from playing this role effectively, then it’s role shifts from an enabler to an impediment to progress and constitutes a danger to the society it is supposed to serve.

Members of the Planning Committee are – Mrs. Patience Sowah, Ag. Registrar, Mrs. Mathias Dugu, Ag. Director of Finance, Mr. Kwasi Agyemang, Council Nominee, Mr. Gayheart Edem Mensah, President, GIJ Alumni, Mr. Johnnie Hughes, Alumni Nominee, Mr. Peter Martey Agbeko, Alumni Nominee, Mr. Redeemer Buatsi, SRC Nominee, Mr. Mathias Tibu, Senior Asst. Registrar and Ms. Beatrice Ganyo-Nukpezah, Secretary.

The school was opened on Monday, October 16, 1959, by the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Kofi Baako, to provide training in journalism towards “the development of a patriotic cadre of journalists to play an active role in the emancipation of the African continent”.