CAMPUSLIFE CORRESPONDENTS STORM LAGOS
The bi-annual workshop for The
Nation’s CAMPUSLIFE correspondents held on the 5th of July to 7th
of July 2013 at CITILODGE Hotels. The event is the 11th in the
series, since the inception in 2008 Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and Nigerian
Bottling Company (NBC) Limited has been the official sponsors.
On Friday 5th of July
2013, all correspondents from various institutions converged at the coperate headquarters
of The Nation. At the office the Editor CAMPUSLIFE of the Nation newspaper Wale
Ajetunmobi, took the correspondents round the printing press, he showed them
how the news they write are been published. After which they went to Nigeria Bottling
Company (NBC) Limited in Ikeja, the correspondents were highly welcomed. Peace Emelie,
the consumer service manager took them to different places around the company
where the drinks are been produced.
The day two of the workshop was a
day package with activities, after their breakfast they gathered at the conference
hall of CITILODGE Hotels. Mr Wale Ajetunmobi, the Editor CAMPUSLIFE gave the welcome
address, he also spoke on communication rules, the dos and don’ts when writing news.
Mr Emeka Mba, of Coca-Cola
Nigeria Limited gave his speech, he advised the correspondents to make good use
of the opportunity they have as young journalist. In his speech he stated the
four (4) core projects Coca-Cola company has, Firstly which is Health, he said
the company partnered with Net for Life, they organized (VCT) voluntary, counselling
and teaching were people are being tested and counselled, Coca-Cola Nigeria
Limited distributed 3 million nets in 2007, and the company is said to empower
about 5million women by 2014. The second is Youth empowerment, CAMPUSLIFE is a
typical example where correspondents come together twice in a year from different
campuses in Nigeria. Thirdly is to visit
the orphanages, less privileges and lastly Education and Environment. 
Mr Agbo Agbo, the husband of the
late CAMPUSLIFE Lady, Late Mrs Ngozi Agbo the initiator of the CAMPUSLIFE Project,
started his speech by saying “great passion never dies” he urged the
correspondent to keep doing what they know how to do best.
Mr Lekan Otunfodurin, online
editor of the Nation newspaper had a brief speech with the correspondents; he
made the correspondents know the benefit of the media.
A standing ovation with applauds
was given when Mr Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a human right
activist and lawyer climbed the podium to give his speech, he stated that in
the past there was real bursary and loan from the government, there was
employment waiting after graduation, as undergraduates there was vacation jobs
but due to mismanagement by the government things has gone bad. I graduated
from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 1981 he said, student leaders were
very vibrant in the 80’s and protected students’ right even while the military
persist. Mr Femi Falana challenged the youth to be agents of change in the
society and campuses. After the talk questions were asked, they also talked about the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) strike.
The last speaker Mrs Stella Ngozi,
Assistant Director Drug Demand Reduction of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA), spoke on building a cult and drug free generation. She informed
the youths that drug abuse is not a weakness but a sickness. She highlighted
some dangers of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis (marijuana), they lowers the immune system,
increases heartbeat, loss of memory, decrease concentration, social rebelliousness
and so many other dangers.
After the day’s workshop the
correspondents went to Treasure of Love missionary of charity motherless babies
home at Ketu, they were welcomed by Sister Lily M.C, she took them around where
the children stays, a correspondent asked the sister what keeps her doing what
she doing, Sister Lily, said she its love which drives her in doing what she is
doing, she also said most of the children there were picked from the street
even in waste bins. Some correspondent couldn’t hold back their tears seeing
the deformed children. On Sunday the 7th of July 2013, the correspondents gathered at the conference hall, they talked about the issues affecting institutions across the Nation, they came up with a body Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) which has been approved by the National Union of Journalist (NUJ) to use the media to give voices to Nigerian students across the Nation. A conference was fixed for August 2013 in University of Calabar, at the meeting they said every institution should have a representative, and four presidents will emerge from four different zones.Emmanuel Ahanonu from University of Calabar said further information will be passed across to every institution through the correspondents.
Speaking with OOU VANGUARD,
Modest Diko, Olabisi Onabanjo University correspondent to CAMPUSLIFE of the
Nation Newspaper said the three day workshop was a splendid one, meeting with
other correspondents from different Institutions across the Nation, the visit
to Coca-Cola company, the talks, and most especially the one which made me drop
tears was the visit to the motherless home, thanks to Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited
and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited which have been the official
sponsors since inception.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Ahanonu, a
correspondent from University of Calabar said he learnt three different things,
firstly exposure, secondly meeting other correspondents who I have been talking
with online, sharing experience in diaspora, and thirdly fun. He added, the event
was well packaged, learning from knowledgeable people who gave talks, like Mr
Femi Falana (SAN), said “life is not about what you get but what you give” between
last year and this year there has been a huge improvement, I thank the sponsors
Coca-Cola company and Nigeria Bottling Company for their huge support and
lastly the children at the motherless home, this made me see the tragedy of
life.
Another correspondent Maimunat
Momoh, from Bayero University Kano (BUK)said she enjoyed herself, meeting other
correspondents put smiles on her face although.
At the end of the workshop, certificates
were issue. Wale Ajetunmobi, the editor CAMPUSLIFE thanked everyone for coming,
he also said he will be pleased if they all turn out at the next
edition coming up in November this year.
…Reporting OOU VANGUARD…
No comments:
Post a Comment