Almost five decades after leaving the classrooms of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), the bonds forged at the institution are proving remarkably resilient, with alumni of the late 1970s continuing to reconnect, reminisce and remain actively engaged with one another.
A recent photograph of members of the combined 1976–78 and 1977–79 sets has offered a striking reminder of the enduring NIJ connection. Among those in the photograph is Epa Ogie Eboigbe, a member of the 1976–78 Set, popularly known as the 1978 Set.
Welcoming him to the growing community of NIJ alumni, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Alumni Association (NIJAA), Mr. Muyiwa Akintunde, acknowledged “Pa” Eboigbe as one of the early graduates of the Institute, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a highly experienced communications professional.
Eboigbe’s response was characteristically warm and humorous.
“’Pa’ sounds like an ancestor”, he joked, before adding that he was “just 72 years young” and that his friends call him Épa, which is also the name of his business.
But beneath the humour was a more significant revelation.
Eboigbe disclosed that the NIJ ’78 set maintains what he described as a “very robust” platform, comprising mostly alumni now in their 70s, where members continue to reminisce about their experiences at Breadfruit Street, Apongbon, Lagos, the historic location of NIJ in its earlier years.
“It has been great to reminisce about what happened at Apongbon those days”, he added.
The story becomes even more compelling when viewed against Eboigbe’s own professional journey.
According to information supplied by him to the NIJAA Alumni Directory, he has accumulated 52 years of professional experience, working across journalism and public relations and publishing. His professional journey has included Radio Nigeria, Voice of America, the Canadian High Commission, the Canadian Trade Commissioners Service, United Bank for Africa and Audio Auditing Nigeria.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a recipient of the NIPR Lagos Lifetime Achievement Award and a Trustee of ACAMB. Significantly, he has indicated his willingness to offer fellow NIJ alumni mentorship, advice and training.
That combination of longevity, professional experience and willingness to give back captures something important about the value of an alumni community: the passage of time does not necessarily diminish the value of its members. In many cases, it increases it.
There is also something quietly symbolic about Eboigbe’s participation in the ongoing NIJAA alumni registration exercise. At a time when some younger alumni have encountered difficulty attaching photographs to the online registration form, the 72-year-old alumnus successfully uploaded a recent photograph of his choice—providing, unintentionally, a light-hearted reminder that age does not necessarily stand in the way of embracing new ways of staying connected.
More importantly, his participation demonstrates why reconnecting NIJ alumni cannot simply be about compiling names and telephone numbers. Behind every entry in the emerging alumni database is a story, a professional journey, a network of relationships and, potentially, decades of knowledge that can benefit another generation.
The combined photograph of the 1976–78 and 1977–79 sets therefore represents more than a reunion image. It is a snapshot of a professional family whose members have carried the NIJ experience into different corners of the media, communications, business and public life.
For the new NIJAA administration, whose agenda places emphasis on unity and welfare, professional growth and mentorship, institutional support, and greater voice and impact, reconnecting these generations is an important part of building an alumni association that is not merely active, but genuinely useful to its members and alma mater.
The experience of the 1978 set is particularly instructive. Nearly half a century after graduation, its members still maintain a platform, share memories and remain connected. Their story challenges the notion that alumni associations are primarily about reunions and nostalgia.
They can also be repositories of institutional memory, professional wisdom and enduring relationships.
And perhaps that is the deeper story behind the photograph: the years may have changed the faces, careers and circumstances of NIJ alumni, but they have not erased the connection that began at the Institute.
From the pioneers of the early 1970s to the professionals graduating decades later, NIJAA is now seeking to bring those generations back into one conversation.
Because when an alumnus who left school almost 50 years ago can still speak with such warmth about Apongbon, maintain an active set platform, embrace the digital process of reconnecting, and still offer his experience for the benefit of younger colleagues, the past is clearly not just something to remember. It is a resource for the future.
NIJAA — From Nostalgia to Impact. From Reunions to Results.
