In 1998 while in Cardiff, UK for an Advanced Journalism course at Thomson Foundation, a colleague taught me how to use search engines on the Internet.
One of the first things I did with the knowledge was to search for Christian media groups worldwide to network with them on our then new Journalists for Christ group.
One of the search results was Writers Information Network (WIN) headed by Elaine Wright Colvin who introduced me to three organisations. One of the organisations was Media Associates International (MAI), a global publishing ministry.
I linked up with Media Associates International (MAI) and I have benefited immensely from local and global resources, networks and opportunities the organisation has offered me.
From Monday to Friday, I was on full scholarship attending the LITTWORLD 2018 conference organised by MAI in Singapore with over 250 participants from 52 countries.
Apart from attending various sessions led by accomplished international speakers, I was privileged to be a speaker at two workshops, be on a panel discussion and coordinate an African Group meeting.
My workshops were: Writing for the Web and Mentoring and Coaching Young Writers.
The panel discussion was on Thriving in an Age of Digital Disruption, while I coordinated the Africa meeting as a member of the MAI Africa Trustees.
I was humbled to find my contribution to a forthcoming book, African Writer Journeys, titled, Journalism for Christ in the conference’s programme booklet.
Five other Nigerians were also at the conference and one of them, Pusonnam Yiri, Jos-based author and trainer, spoke on Thinking Locally, Writing Globally at the opening general session with profound insights.
I was glad to meet Peky Samal, a fellow journalist from Bruthan who was a co-fellow some years ago at Poynter Institute for Media Studies in Florida, USA.
The World Wide Web is indeed a gold mine, but what you get from it is what you want and what you do with it.
With search engines, any interested person can search for as much information and resources he or she requires and maximise them.
The Internet makes the concept of the world being a global village a reality with no territorial limits to how much one can accomplish, no matter where he or she is located. There is little or no restriction to the contribution anyone can make to the conversation online or take from it.
More than being social media tools, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and others have become professional platforms for networking beyond social issues.
Instead of indulging in unnecessary ranting online, there is the need to be involved quality engagements with boundless opportunities.
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