…….As NUJ, Media Chiefs recommend her for NYSC award
By Is’haq Babtunde
Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun has recommended a youth corps member serving in the Directorate, Miss Goodness Nneka Nwogwugwu, with state code number kW/18B/2788, for National award in recognition of her immense contributions and great inpact in the directorate.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara state Council, Mallam Umar Abdulwahab, the former General Manager of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin, Alhaji Adetunji Abdulmajeed and the Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin Dr Lukman Azeez, also subscribed to the call on the scheme to consider her for the national or state award.
Mr Akogun made the recommendation on Friday in his address during a symposium and inauguration of press club programme organised by the corps member held at the Faculty of Communication and Information Science (CIS) Lecture Teathear.
According to him, Nneka Nwogwugwu is an outstanding corps member who has proved her worth as a good ambassador of the corporate Affairs.
“She is a great ambassador of Corporate Affairs. We are very proud be of her. She is one of the very productive staff, she contributes to unilorin fm and weekly University Bulettin”
She is one of my professional daughters, and a very outstanding youth corper.
He said If truly award is given on merit, hard work and dedication, Nneka should be presented with either National or state NYSC award.
In his remarks, the Ag station Manager of the Unilorin fm station, Mr Idris Ibrahim Alooma described Nneka as a dedicated corps member who has been very helpful and supportive to Unilorin FM station and the Directorate since she joined the unit for her one year service programme.
Mr Alooma also aligned with director’s recommendation of National Award to be conferred on Nneka Nwogwugwu as a compensation and motivation for her diligence, doggedness and great commitment towards the service of her father land.
In her address on the occasion, the Kwara State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Esther Tosin Ikupoulati said corps members impact in their various Places of Primary Assignments has further confirmed the effectiveness of scheme in achieving and sustaining nationaltion and community development.
The state coordinator who was represented on the occasion by Mrs Magdalene Ayu
said Nneka has done the management of NYSC proud for her outstanding performance and pledged to keep the coordinator informed about the accolades and encomiums being passed on her for possible consideration for award as recommended by her bosses in her PPA.
The Chairman of the occasion and a well known vetran journalist, Alhaji Liadi Tella described Nneka as a brilliant, and vibrant young lady with passion for professionalism.
Alhaji Tella who also lectures at the Department of Mass communication, University of Ilorin, lauded the corps member’s courage for organizing the symposium, said this event could not have come at a better time than now when graduates’ chance of securing white collar job after graduation is very narrow and fictitious, saying that journalism is one of the very few professions with bright job opportunities after graduation.
The Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Dr Lukman Azeez described the organiser of the symposium as a forward thinking, vibrant and dedicated youth corps member.
Dr Azeez said the Department of Mass Communication and Directorate of Coorporate Affairs would continue to remember her for the great impact she has made in the University of Ilorin.
The Head of Department particularly commended Nneka for organizating symposium for the undergraduates of Mass Communication and the inauguration of secondary students as members of press club.
Dr Oba Abdulkadir La’aro of the Mass communication Department, University of Ilorin was the guest speaker on the ocassion who spoke on the theme “Mass Communication Practice: Prospects and Challenges”.
Dr La’aro described mass communication as a unique profession with enormous opportunities for the practitioners, and enjoined undergraduate students to develop mental positive attitude toward the practice of the practice after the graduation.
According to him, though the profession is accompanied with a lot of changes, great rewards and bountiful opportunities await those who practice journalism the way and manner the ethics of the profession demands.
Speaking during the well attended ocassion, the convener of the programme
Miss Nneka Nwogwugwu explained that the programme sought to ensure that the practice of mass communication is encouraged.
Nwogwugwu stated further that the objective was established through the zeal to organize a symposium for Mass Communication students in the University of Ilorin and the establishment of press clubs in secondary schools particularly in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“This project commenced fully between the period of April and June, 2019 whereby they’ve been regular visits to five selected schools in Ilorin South which include; Government Day secondary school Gaa-Akanbi, Government Day secondary school Ababiaka, Crystal model secondary school, Gaa-Akanbi school, Mater Academium College, Ababiaka and Unilorin Secondary School.
“Each school has its day of visitation where I would go and educate the students on the major functions of Press club, news writing and presentation, and other activities.
During the course of the orientation, schools started full operations of the activities of the Clubs, there were inauguration of the Clubs executives, press slogan and meeting modalities were initiated and presentations during general Assembly and club meetings began” she revealed.
She said there had been a good record of the turn out , cooperation, commitment and participation of students during the meetings in such a way that students were assigned to present current affairs and other relevant topics.
To encourage members of the press clubs and to leverage on the challenges affecting the effective running of the clubs, miss Nwogwugwu printed the First newsletters publication of Unilorin Secondary school, donated the first notice board of Crystal Model secondary school, Gaa-Akanbi, and book donations to others.
Nwogwugwu disclosed that the essence of establishing the press clubs was to lay a good foundation for youngsters aspiring to study mass communication and to boost their public speaking skills.
Highlights of the event included inauguration of press club administered by the Vice Chairman of the NUJ, the kwara state council,
Mallam Mustafa Abubakar who stood in for the Chairman, presentation of gift items to participated secondary schools among others.
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