By Emmanuel Oluwadola
A three-day training organized by the African Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) via its network for Campus Journalists across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions has just ended.
The event which was held at Academy Suites Ososami, near Ibadan Central Hospital behind Liberty Stadium, Oke-Ado Ibadan Oyo State had in attendance a total number of 13 student journalists across the country.
The Universities are the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Babcock University, University of Lagos, Adekunle Ajasin University, University of Ilorin, Polytechnic of Ibadan, and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.
The selected participants were trained on various issues surrounding Campus Journalism: Ethics, Safety, Governance, Data-driven, and Fact-checking.
The Executive Director of the Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals, who is also the convener of the event, Yinka Olaito, urged the participants who he described as the outright game changers the world is waiting for to be resilient, innovative, and positive impact-oriented while carrying out their duties as journalists.
He said, “We are in search of the game-changers. People who can bring changes in the media space. The media seats are empty, it needs passionate people who can occupy it.”
Firebrand journalists, the likes of Femi Ipadeola, Adejumo Kabir, and Dr. Suraj Olunifesi who facilitated sessions of the training emphasized their vital role of practicing journalism with professional ethics to change the media’s outlook and abstain from being bandwagon journalists.
They also enlightened the participants on the safety of journalists, managing relationships with academic communities, investigative and data-driven reporting.
The participants were advised to network and learn from themselves knowing fully well that experience and networking with people in the media space is very essential.
Participants Testimonies…
One of the participants, Erinle Temiloluwa, a student from the University of Lagos disclosed that he gained some new skills, directions to earn important skills, and project ideas during the intensive media training.
He said, “The motivation to continue and improve has been the most important gain for me. I hope to find enough motivation to continue to pursue hard on important project ideas. I am very motivated,” Erinle noted.
Deborah Madu, a student of Babcock University, affirmed that the training has been an avalanche for her to learn new things about journalism and she described it as a worthwhile experience.
She said, “I came into a better understanding of what campus journalism entails. I hope to be the game changer and to see people take it up from me.”
The AFYMP Media Project was founded and aimed at raising upcoming media practitioners to effect needed change in the narrative of media practice in Nigeria and beyond.
