From Left: Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, Ibrahim Awal Mohammed, Dr. Lawrencia Agyepong and Mrs Kwaky Rockson member of the governing council unveiling the 60th Anniversary logo.
The Minister for Business Development, Ibrahim Awal Mohammed, has urged journalists to explore other means of income generation.
According to him, journalists can venture into entrepreneurship in order to have a befitting retirement.
“I want the media to also focus on entrepreneurship; journalists and media practitioners can also own businesses. You make people and companies great; make yourself great. It is all about the mindset,” he said.
He noted that under the presidential business support project, the ministry, which he heads, supports start-ups with up to GH¢100,000 at only 10 per cent interest rate.
“Please, take it and go and set up businesses; we will support you to grow. It is not so good you see journalist work over the years; when they retire they die out of poverty. That era is gone,” he added.
He was speaking as the guest of honour at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) 60th anniversary and endowment fund launch in Accra.
The launch of the celebration is aimed at connecting alumni, students, corporate Ghana, and numerous friends and supporters of GIJ.
Mr. Mohammed further commended the rector and faculty for the launch of the endowment fund to secure the financial health of the institution to continue to serve its vision and mission.
He pledged to support the fund with GH¢50,000 and called on alumni and corporate bodies to do same.
The Rector of the Institute, Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, in his remarks, observed that GIJ seeks to strengthen its technological and programme capacity to train digital-age communicators with the skills and competence for the current media landscape and the next generation.
He indicated that the institution is therefore embarking on a fund-raising drive to establish an international Digital Hub to serve both international and local students, faculty, practitioners and professionals in the field of media communications and research.
“The hub will provide digital media departments such as research and E-library, Digital Audio-Visual Centre, Online news and current affairs centre, graphics and adverts design centre, digital print production centre and scheduled training,” he said.
“It is time for Ghana and Africa to tell our own stories on the world stage,” said Prof. Kwansah-Aidoo.
The theme for the 60th anniversary is: “GIJ: Celebrating Our Past, Inspiring Our Future.”
Dr. Lawrencia Agyepong, Chairperson of the 60th Anniversary Committee, said the GIJ story is just the beginning of the institution established in October 1959 as the first school of journalism in sub-Saharan Africa.
“For six decades, the institute has focused on journalism and communication education and is credited with producing the majority of Ghana’s media professionals, corporate communicators, advertising and public relations practitioners,” he said.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri