The 1992 set of the Association of Mass Communication
Students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State have told the
Mass Communication students of the institution to explore how to become media
entrepreneurs instead of looking for white-collar jobs.
Officials and members of the set, known as AMACOS ’92, said
this on Tuesday when they came to their alma mater, which was known as Ogun
State Polytechnic during their time in the school, for a mentoring programme in
the department.
The association, during the programme, taught the students
practical aspects of public relations, advertising, print journalism, broadcast
journalism and blogging to mark their 25 years post-graduation anniversary from
the institution.
The programme, which had as theme: “Classroom Experience and
Post-Classroom Reality,” was held at the auditorium of the Mass Communication
Department.
It had in attendance the Rector, MAPOLY, Prof. Oludele
Itiola; the Director, School of Communications and Information Technology, Dr.
Goke Raufu; the Head of Department, Kolawole Amos; and the Sub-Dean, Lekan
Oketokun.
An alumnus and Founder, Rave FM 93.7, Osogbo, Osun State,
Femi Adefila, who spoke on: “How to become a successful media entrepreneur,”
told the students that the days of white-collar jobs were gone, advising them
to develop the mentality of job creators.
Adefila urged them to have the “can-do spirit” because,
according to him, nothing is impossible.
"You must be pregnant with ideas and deliver it. You
should dream big and always think out of the box. At times, there may not even
be any box,” he stated.
Another alumnus and Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Debo Abdulai,
who spoke on: “How a journalist can remain relevant in today's newspaper
world,” noted that for a journalist to stand out, he or she must be creative
and constantly seek knowledge by reading wide.
Abdulai also listed adaptability, carving a niche for
oneself, taking initiatives, integrity and nurturing relationship as some of
the ingredients that would make the students relevant in the media practice
after leaving school.
He noted that the media industry, especially print
journalism, in the country was striking, as circulation had dropped, identifying
online media as the biggest threat.
“Your success as a journalist isn't just dependent on the
right skills and experience, it is dependent on you showing initiative. How you
show initiative plays an active role in your career and it determines how far
you will go in your career,” he said.
The Publisher, The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, who spoke on
online publishing, allayed the fears that online journalism might kill
newspapers, arguing that newspapers would continue to survive despite the
penetration of online media.
Oladipo challenge the students to start making money from
their smart phones even while in school.
The Vice-Chairman of AMACOS ’92, Adekunle Adeshina, speaking
on public relations, urged the students to dare to be different in whatever
they were involved in.
“Walk with confidence and engage in self improvement,”
Adeshina said.
The “hairman of the set, Adekunle Adams, said the association
in the past had donated equipment worth over N2 million to the department.
The ex-students equally donated a giant generator to the
department on Tuesday.
Adams expressed the support of the set for the transformation
of MAPOLY to a university of technology.
Appreciating the former students, the Rector, who was
represented by Raufu, said the Department of Mass Communication was the
flagship of the institution.
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