Neptune Prime Network Nigeria Limited has unveiled the Neptune Prime Institute of Journalism, a new training arm aimed at nurturing the next generation of journalists, media professionals and digital content creators, with the sale of application forms for its maiden September 2026 intake now underway.
The initiative is the brainchild of veteran journalist Dr Hassan Gimba, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Neptune Prime Network Nigeria Limited — the media company behind Neptune Prime, one of Nigeria’s leading online newspapers, published in both English and Hausa.
Officials of the Institute said it has been designed to bridge the widening skills gap in Nigeria’s media industry by combining classroom-style instruction with hands-on, newsroom-driven training tailored for the digital age.
Prospective students can apply through the Institute’s official portal, https://npij.neptuneprime.com.ng/, for any of the following programmes:
– Diploma in Journalism & Media Studies
– Certificate in Mass Communication & Media Practice
– Certificate in Content Creation (English Language)
– Certificate in Content Creation (Hausa Language)
Each programme, according to the Institute, is structured to deliver practical, industry-relevant skills, preparing graduates to function confidently as reporters, editors, media entrepreneurs and content creators in a rapidly evolving information ecosystem.
To anchor its academic and administrative credibility, NPIJ has assembled a governing board drawn from journalism, academia, law, business, and public administration.
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At the helm as Founder and Executive Chairman is Dr Hassan Gimba, an award-winning journalist, public commentator and online publisher who has authored more than 1,000 articles on politics, governance and security. He is joined by Garba Mamu — Chairman, Advisory Board; former General Manager and later Executive Director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and a former board member of the News Agency of Nigeria;
Shu’aibu Usman Leman — Vice Chairman 1; veteran journalist and former National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists; Shettima Bukar Imam — Vice Chairman 2; former General Manager of Maiduguri Monday Market, former NNPC Depot Manager (Kaduna), and current Executive Vice Chairman of Cleanergy Innovation; Suleiman Gimba Hassan, Esq — Vice Chairman 3; Abuja-based lawyer, legislative advocate, and Managing Director of BoldBrick Smart Homes.
Also on board are Dr Rachael O. Ojeka-John — Advisory Board Member (Academic/Curriculum); lecturer and communication researcher specialising in journalism, strategic communication and health communication; Danlami R. Nmodu— Board Member, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newsdiary online and incumbent President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers; Dr Saleh Mari Maina — Advisory Board Member; editor and journalism lecturer with over 30 years of experience; Halima Abdulrauf — Advisory Board Member; multimedia journalist and Founder/CEO of S24 Media Services, parent company of S24 Television.
Others include Gift Luckson — Deputy Coordinator, Academics; journalist known for reportage on politics, international affairs and human-interest stories; Aminu Abubakar Sadiq — Acting Registrar; retired Assistant Director in the Federal Civil Service; Lilian Hosea — Assistant Registrar 1; educator and administrator with nearly two decades of experience; Tawheed Yakub — Assistant Registrar 2, journalist, editor and digital media communications professional; Charles Onunaiju — Advisory Board Member; scholar, author and one of Africa’s foremost commentators on China–Africa relations;.
The rest are Mohammed Salisu Adamu — Advisory Board Member, former Nigeria Customs Service officer turned business executive; Engr. Aminu Abubakar Yabo — Board Member; telecommunications engineer, PhD in Leadership and Management, and fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management; Amina Musa Kida — Advisory Board Member, legal professional with cross-cutting experience in banking, management and international relations; and Jamila Muhammad Kolo — Deputy Coordinator, Admin; education administrator and business leader with over three decades of experience.
The Institute is positioning itself as a modern alternative to traditional journalism training, emphasising flexibility and employability. According to its promoters, students will study online from anywhere, removing geographical barriers to quality media education, learn directly from practising journalists and academics with active industry footprints, acquire practical, industry-relevant skills aligned with newsroom and digital-media realities and graduate with a professional portfolio, not just a certificate — giving them tangible work to present to employers and clients.
The launch of the institute comes at a time when Nigeria’s media industry is grappling with the twin pressures of digital disruption and a shrinking pipeline of well-trained journalists.
Industry watchers say purpose-built institutions like NPIJ — which fuse traditional reporting values with digital storytelling, content creation and bilingual (English Hausa) instruction — could help reshape the country’s media workforce and expand opportunities for young Nigerians in Africa’s fast-growing creator economy.
Crediblenewsng.com
