The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ngozi Agbo

  • ‘Regulating social media will amount to tyranny’

    CEO of Amen Estate Babatunde Gbadamosi has said that the regulation of the media will amount to muzzling freedom of expression.

    He stated this at the Ngozi Agbo lecture organised by the Press Club of the University of Lagos on October 11, 2018.

    Gbadamosi said there is no need to regulate the information exchanged on the online platform since the opinions expressed in meeting places like the vendor stands, eateries and others cannot be regulated.

    “Even if we go ahead to regulate the information exchanged on the online platform , are we still going to regulate the information and opinions exchanged and expressed at the vendor stand, eateries and other places?”

    He also urged the government to leave the regulation of the online platform and meet the infrastructural needs of the technological sector which he said will increase employment.

    Read Also: Be wary of information on social media – DVC UNILAG

    “Leave the regulation of the social media and provide strong networks and other necessary infrastructure to meet the unending employment needs, provision of shelter and meet the basic needs of man”

    He added that journalists have failed in delivering top notch investigative reports by not investigating the past of politicians which are most times ugly.

    On the problem with the country, he said “the issue with Nigeria is that Nigerians are too superficial, they like things that are shining.“

  • Be wary of information on social media – DVC UNILAG

    The Deputy Vice Chancellor of University Of Lagos, Professor Folashade Ogunshola has advised people to be wary of the information they see on social media.

    She gave the advice at the 6th Ngozi Agbo Media Lecture and Summit held on Thursday October 11 2018.

    Ogunshola who was one of the special guests at the summit in her speech noted that while social media is a powerful tool used to share information, it can also be used  to mar and defame someone.

    Read Also: Kwara warns school administrators against unauthorised fees

    ”There is a major responsibility on the media, so they don’t get caught on emotion, rather write stories based on evidence and fact’.

    ”Journalists should strive and get balanced news and evidence based information,” she said.

    Ogunshola further stated that If journalists don’t start working on investigative report, the social media will be used for oppression.

    “Since there is no regulation of the social media many bloggers tend to use it for disseminating fake news which most times many people tends to believe without even checking for facts.”

    She also advised journalists to extend their reach outside Nigeria and increase their global footprints.

  • Sixth Ngozi Agbo lecture holds today

    The sixth Ngozi Agbo Media Lecture and Summit, organised by the Press Club of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) will hold today at the Centre of Excellence Hall, Department of Mass Communication.

    The event is held yearly in honour of the late Mrs Ngozi Agbo, a doyenne of campus journalism and pioneer Editor of CAMPUSLIFE – a campus-focused pullout in The Nation newspaper – who died on May 28, 2012.

    The event with the theme: Journalism and the challenges of today, starts at 10am and will feature a lecture on media practice in modern times, debate, essay contest, training, and discussion panel, among others.

    Renowned journalists and professionals making excellent contribution to the media practice are expected to grace the event.

    Mr Dayo Aiyetan, executive director of the International Center for Investigative Reporting, a non-profit organisation promoting the culture of journalism investigation, will be the guest speaker.

    The event will be chaired by UNILAG Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, while the duo of Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, The Nation Online Editor, and Mrs Joy-Rita Mogbogu of the Mass Communication Department, will co-host the sessions.

    The panel session will host ace journalists, who cut their professional teeth through campus journalism. They include the late Mrs Agbo’s protégé and current Editor of CAMPUSLIFE, Wale Ajetunmobi, a multiple award-winning Education correspondent with the New Telegraph, Mojeed Alabi, ex-Punch campus reporter, Sodiq Oyeleke, Prince Oyeniyi Joshua of The Ambassador Summit, and Tayo Popoola of the Mass Communication Department.

    Also, Chief Executive Officer of Broadway Africa, Samuel Olatunji, Director of PVG Publivision Concept, Yemi Olalemi and Solomon Samuel of Media and Youth Advocacy, will train students on modern technology tools used in storytelling.

    Special guests at the event include founder, Liberty Life Hospital and Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation (BOF), Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, among others.

     

  • Ngozi Agbo: The unforgettable impact

    SOME years back, a bright looking woman confidently walked through the gates of The Nation. She had a dream, which was to get undergraduates across the country to have their news and opinions published. The proposal was approved by the Editor Mr Gbenga Omotoso. Immediately, the late Mrs NgoziAgbo sent over 75 letters to corporate bodies including Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL), which eventually requested for a meeting with her. The project made its debut on August 2, 2007.

    After death, there is an eternal limitation to the power of man to alter his own destiny. All his strivings and toil come to an end. Society dwells only on the fissures of his memories. Those memories, could evoke heroism or crass pedestrianism; depending on the achievements or failures of the persona. Our memories of Aunty Ngozi point to the fact that man must live for a cause that is loftier than the pulse of his breath. Aunty Ngozi’s existence swaggers in meaning, impact and redefinition of the human narrative. Her dreams are perpetually alive just like John Keat’s poetry of the earth.

    One of the best decisions I ever made in my life was to join the CAMPUSLIFE student-correspondents. This is because whenever I look back at everything I had learnt or achieved and people that I have met, I am always happy for a dream fulfilled and not just for me alone but for other correspondents. It might interest you to know that students who learnt from her feet are today dominating their territories, especially the media. Now, let’s take a peep into their world.

    Joyce Marcus with “From campus to alter” as one of her leading stories, was reporting from Benson Idahosa University (BIU). She is now a big shot at Nigerian News Direct, where she reports for the daily.

    Segun Adegbenro was a Special Assistant  to former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. He is one of the bloggers, who reached out to youths to see APC to victory in the last elections. Segun was reporting from Ekiti State University (EKSU) and “Fayemi okays scholarship” remains one of his best stories for CAMPUSLIFE.

    Hope Ofobike updated us with happenings from University of Jos (UNIJOS). One of her best stories was “Jos bombs: my experience”. Hope is now a hot cake in the media world where she has worked with Nigeria Times, Vanguard, among others.

    Dayo Ibitoye has won many awards, including state recognitions. Dayo was reporting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), and “ABU conducts Post UTME” was one of his major stories. He is now a blogger where he draws attention to latest technological breakthroughs.  Drawing government’s attention to Ifite Road was one of Ngozi Emmanuel’s stories. Ngozi, an award-winning reporter, is now a presenter and a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State.

    Opeyemi Dibua was also reporting EKSU with “Students angry over cadet’s reinstatement” as one of his best stories. Dibua is now working with The Nation’s Sporting Life.

    Mutiat Alli is equally doing well with Daily Times. Mutiat, who was a correspondent from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), wrote “Nigeria music and marijuana” as one of her best features for CAMPUSLIFE.

    That’s not all. Faith Olaniran who was reporting from the Federal University of Technology, Minna  (FUT MINNA) has worked with several radio stations. He is a  blogger and event planner.

    Wale Ajetunmobi remains the man of the moment. Wale was reporting from University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and now he has  stepped into Aunty Ngozi’s shoes, coordinating the eight-page weekly pullout.

    However, as I doff my hat for my fellow pen pushers, I can’t help but recount my achievement as a product of this platform. I report from Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun. But today, God has positioned me as Editor-In-Chief of Exceptional International Magazine, a highly successful tabloid that has brought me fame and fortune. Today, the magazine offers me a veritable platform to run different life-enriching programmes after turning down media job offers to paddle my own canoe. The stories go on and on.

    Even the new set of correspondents, who did not meet Aunty Ngozi, are doing pretty well in their respective spheres of influence. Some of them are bloggers, presenters, reporters and so on.

    Eddy Uwoghiren reports from the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Notable among his stories is his foray into the love life of campus couples tagged: “Single at home, married in school.” He owns a niche blog, where he x-rays thought-provoking and scholarly works of medical students and young doctors in Nigeria.

    Jennifer Umeh is a correspondent from Offa Poly in Kwara State. And one of her major stories is “Strike: students say never again”. Aside her blog and other productive engagements, she has organised several youth development programmes, including the Wazobia fashion contest.

    The late Aunty Ngozi once told me that our lives – CAMPUSLIFE correspondents – are barometer with which she gauged her failure or success. As a young entrepreneur, Aunty taught me never to give up in any circumstance. I find myself. Aunty was proud of her students and always stood up for them.

    Adieu Aunty Ngozi. We love you but God loves you more. Your achievements are profound. Your departure is a great loss to the  world. Aunty Ngozi left a legacy, which will forever remain indelible in our memories. Though Aunty Ngozi did not stay here for long, but her impacts shine on like the stars of heaven.

     

    Gbenga, HND student of Petroleum Training Institute, Delta State