It was a dream come true for a youth corps member, Gerald
Nwokocha, as he clinched The Nation Campus Life reporter of the year.
Campus Life, an 8-page weekly pull out, inititated by late Ngozi
Agbo of The Nation Newspaper, has since the last four years been readers’
delight every Thursday.
Held at the Bespoke Event Centre with over 50 students in
attendance, other campus journalists were also awarded. They were Chisom Ojukwu
of FUTO (Sports Category); Gilbert Alasa of UNIBEN (Opinion); Habeeb Whyte of
UNILORIN (Personality Interview); Uche Anichebe of UNIZIK, Awka (Investigatory
Reporting); Emeka Attah and Ngozi Emmanuel (both of UNIZIK, Awka) were
announced joint winner of the Culture Category while Gerald, who had earlier
been announced as winner of the Campus Politics Category, got the main price.
A graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri,
FUTO, Gerald’s works impressed the judges who were led by the Chairman of The
Nation’s editorial board, Mr. Sam Omatseye.
Welcoming the students, the Online Editor of The Nation
Newspaper, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin charged them to be creative as the media
profession needs people who are coming with new ideas and not what others have
been doing over times. Citing the case of the the woman who brought the idea,
late Mrs. Ngozi Agbo, she said they dont want graduates who, when confronted
with which type of job they want, would opt for any kind.
While urging the students to see themselves as Nigerians and not
as Southerners or Northerners, The Nation reporter who just launched his
memoir, SERVED, Mr Joe Agbro Jr. said that as youth schooling at the Federal
Government Girls College, Warri, his ambition was to have a bit of Nigeria as
they’ve discussed among his mates who were from different religion and ethnic
background.
He noted that the NYSC is an opportunity to learn adding that we
dont understand our strength, as people.
In his keynote address, the husband of the late Ngozi, Mr Agbo
Agbo, assured the students of his continued support, observing that his late
wife had a dream for all of them. He said that he is happy that many of them
are making waves in their various endeavour.
He added that Nigeria is gradually moving in the right direction
without, we, noticing.
He charged the students to uphold the values his late wife
taught them, adding that people are still mourning the late mentor for anything
but for her uprightness and ways she impacted the students.
The guest lecturer, editor of Guardian Newspaper, Mr Martin
Oloja who delivered the lecture on The Role of the Media in Nation Rebirth,
posited that the forces of globalisation has changed journalism and its effect
are irreversible. He said that there is disconnect between the tertiary
institutions and the media industry.
He noted that in the developed countries, CNN, BBC, New York
Times editors are journalism lecturers but the reverse is the case in Africa,
most especially in Nigeria.
Maintaining that journalism is the best profession in the world,
Mr Oloja who was until his appointment, the Abuja Bureau Chief confessed that
most of those that are teaching them journalism and Mass-Communication are not
practicing.
The effect, he affirmed, is what we have in today’s News Rooms.
He advised them to apply for online journalism courses to improve their
knowledge and skills.
He said: “Radion, Televison and Newspaper are in trouble as
people gets news as they occur on social news feed. Nobody wants to wait till
tomorrow to get news. When you can read every news online free of charge, how
will the newspaper survive? We have to rise up to the challenges as the social
network sites, especially twitter, are destroying investigatory journalism; as
news considered classified, are posted immediately they happen.
“Most of the journalism school in the West are combining it with
Computer Science in order to come up with digital platform, the latest.
“We should challenge our school authority over the old
curriculum for the future to be saved as development and education go together.
“Many of us may end up as freelancers as people like me may not
even survive it; you may be ordered to file stories from your homes and you
will be paid based on your contribution(s). That’s how it is done in the West.”
He advised the students to read extensively saying that they can
only write remarkable things from what they know. Reading good materials, he
exclaimed, makes people powerful as there is power in what you know.
He observed that we are talking of rebirth because our birth has
been destroyed; we are where we are supposed to be. “We are not telling you to
be rebellious but to be critical through responsible journalism and analysis of
vents and issues.”
He confessed that any Newspaper that does not respect public
interest-what the people want-will die.
Digital journalism has taken over from traditional journalism
because globalisation is an idea whose time has come, he said.
The representative of the sponsors, The Nigeria Bottling Company
and Coca Cola, Mr. Emeka Mbah, charged the students to use what they’ve been
taught to expose evils. He said that the company is happy sponsoring the
projects, adding that efforst are in top gear to increase the page.
After the lecture and refreshments, the students, who were
selected from various higher institutions of learning were taken to Campos
Square, Lagos to watch the novelty match organised to commemmorate this year
HIV/AIDs day, between celebrities and Ex-Super Eagles. At the match, they had
the opportunity of signing autographs and taking pictures with former Head of
State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi,
Celestine Babayaro, MI, Saka of Etisalat Advert, and host of others.
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