The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) on Saturday November 15, 2014 held its 8th Congregation on the forecourt of the Institute to award Degree and Diploma Certificates to deserving students who successfully completed their program of study in May, 2014.

The Congregation was Chaired by the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, on the theme: “Higher Education; Enhancing Access and Quality”.

The two and half-months-old Newly Appointed Rector of the Institute, Dr. Wilberforce Sefakor Dzisah expressed his overwhelming happiness to witness his first Congregation since his appointment in July.

Speaking on the theme, the Rector said “the choice of the theme for the Congregation is to reaffirm the critical role the Institute is playing in offering access to the growing number of students who are yearning for tertiary education, particularly in Media, Journalism, Public Relations and Communication Studies in general”.

In the Rector’s report, he congratulated the fresh graduates for a good work done and projected GIJ as not only the leader but the pacesetter. “ … I am aware of the high expectations from the public to see GIJ not only as a leader but also as a pacesetter in terms of the quality of our products”.

The Chairman of the ceremony also congratulated and advised the graduates not to be bothered about their class in society. He added that “Your class does not determine what you will become, what you can do is what matters."

The Congregation was graced by other Invited Guests like the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Okudjeto Ablakwa, Dean of Students and Heads of Departments of the Institute and Parents.

At the end of the ceremony, the then SRC President, Noel Nutsugah swept home two mouth watery awards; the best Student in Journalism and the overall best Student.

Other students from the diploma, as well as degree classes also carried home amazing prizes from sponsors.

Four hundred and sixty-four (464) students for both Diploma and Degree programs graduated out of the total student population of two thousand, four hundred and sixty-five (2,465).

The Ghana Institute of Journalism was established by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and was officially opened on October 16, 1959.