The National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko in Ondo State celebrated her 14th annual Press Week in grand style, leaving an imprint to tell the memorable history.
Press Week is an annual celebration of the media students and usually takes place in the second semester. Students have a remarkable encounter of learning, unlearning and relearning. They have fun but most importantly, it’s a time to say a splendid farewell to the final year students of the association.
Several activities take place over the course of the week; Monday for Old School Day, Tuesday for Cultural Day, Wednesday for a public lecture and symposium, Thursday for indoor games and Friday for awards and dinner party. On Sunday, there is a thanksgiving service to appreciate God for the success of the program.
This event showcases the excellent planning of the Students Executive Council (EXCO), student representatives, caucus leaders and students of the association. Students pay N1,000 for the event to cover the cost of the various activities and dinner party. Branded vests and ankara are also sold at affordable prices to grace the occasion.
Monday: Old School Day
The students trooped out in their thousands to mark the ‘old school day’ celebration. The dress code was old school uniform as stipulated by the press week committee. After the assembly finished at 10:00am, the students were led by the association president, Comrade Ikulajolu Adesola.
Tuesday: Cultural Day
The second day of Press Week was a showcase of Yoruba and other cultures. This year, the cultural day was organised in conjunction with the Africa Communication System (ACS). ACS is a course at the department of Mass Communication, where the first year students learn and display African cultures to entertain, educate and inform.
Wednesday: Public Lecture
The public lecture and symposium is always the real deal for the students as it is boasts great topics. It was held at the Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall of the University.
Last year, veteran journalist Mojeed Alabi of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalists gave a lecture on the Ethics of Journalism.
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This year was also quite interesting as media experts from various fields of journalism were present. They shared from their collective wealth of knowledge and experience about the theme – ‘Beyond Grades: Meeting Demands Of The Media Industry‘.
The speakers charged the students to get fired up to overthrow those who have hijacked the profession. They did justice with their teaching and admonished the students to take their rightful position in the media industry.
The Executive Secretary of Media Career Development Network – Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin – was one of the special guests at the event and he gave a virtual lecture. The former Managing Editor of The Nation Newspapers said most students study to pass their exams and get a good grade. But they fail in gathering experience which according to him, is the master of all study.
“Most students study simply to get good grades. Somehow, the education system overemphasizes how to make good grades. However, students should understand and appreciate the areas in which they are interested and capable of excelling”.
Another guest speaker, Mr. Segun Olakoyenika who is a fact-checking journalist with AFP, said that Nigeria today have journalists who are working but are not really productive.
“Journalists should go far beyond being a press release journalist. Rather they should follow it as stated in the constitution, by holding government accountable. And this requires extra skills and efforts because they need data to write such stories and considering the people they are dealing with. They must meet the constitutional demand which is holding government accountable. And aside from that, they have to meet the societal demand which is writing stories facing the people daily.”
Olakoyenika further advised that regardless of their perceived social status, students must thinking from a global perspective. He encouraged them to visit websites such as the United Nations and look up items on sustainable development and growth. The guest speaker told his listeners to develop capacity in areas that are in high demand like fact checking, data journalism, investigative journalism and data visualization.
Lulu Fawehinmi is a communications consultant who focusses on branding and strategy. He is also the state coordinator for Pentagon Movement Group (PMG). In his speech, Fawehinmi said Information Communication Technology (ICT) is growing daily and that students must embrace and familiarize themselves with it.
He urged the students to see life beyond grades and certificates as those alone cannot earn them a job after graduation. According to him, “If a student is determined to become a doctor, it is unwise to put all of his or her energy into passing Religious Studies at the expense of Chemistry”.
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Former campus reporter and alumni of the department, Shola Ilesanmi is now a freelance journalist with BBC and AFP. The Firebrand as he is popularly called, said the students have all opportunities and what it takes to set the pace and perform well on the field.
He is confident that mass commination students are well-grounded in journalism compared to those who just ‘stumbled upon the profession’. And for that reason, he asserts that they must not settle for excuses. Instead they should sit up and fight for their rightful place in the media industry.
He affirms that skills are a prerequisite because of the competitive nature of the industry. According to him, the challenges facing the industry include but isn’t limited to a good command of written and spoken English. Ilesanmi believes that the ability of a media student to deliver beyond the classroom is what sets them apart.
Olumide Olamide of Empire Radio highlighted the impediments students face during their time of study. He cited a lack of adequate facilities and competent personnel to teach the practical aspect of the course as stipulated in the curriculum of National University Commission. However, he urged the students not to despise their days of little beginning as there are better days ahead. He advised the students to upgrade their skills personally.
A researcher and journalist of the Hope Newspaper Akure – Mr. Saheed Ibrahim – listed five things that students must possess before graduation: training, information, networking, professional bodies and structure.
Thursday: Indoor Games Day
It was a fun day on Thursday as various groups faced each other at the Mass Communication Relaxation Centre. The event showcased different games such as draught, Monopoly and chess.
Friday: Award Night and Dinner Party
This event takes place on Day 5 of Press Week and outstanding students receive prizes, certificates and awards. The red carpet event started promptly at 5pm at Supare Town Hall.
Dignitaries and students of the department graced the occasion. Students at the dinner bagged awards such as Poet Of The Year, Most Beautiful, Writer Of The Year and Couple Of The Year, to name a few. The event ended at 11pm.
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