By Abdullateef Bala Usman and Kamaldeen Aishat
On Sunday, October 22, 2023, the National Association of Campus Journalists, under the leadership of Abdulwasiu Olokooba inducted students from the Mass Communication Department into the association.
The induction had in attendance NACJ intending members, current members, executives, and Mass Communication students, with Abdulrahman Abdulganiyu Akanbi, the General Secretary of NACJ, administering the induction oath to 43 inductees.
Abdulwasiu Olokooba expressed his gratitude for the collective efforts of the members and the organizing committee, which contributed to the success of the training.
"I want to first of all thank our organizing committee, food and logistics committee, and even the participants, for it would not have been possible without you all," he expressed.
The General Secretary further urged the inductees to be committed to their respective press boards and NACJ as a whole stressing that journalism is a practical profession.
At the induction, Anas Abdulrahman, a 300-level Mass Communication student and also the class representative addressed the inductees. He highlighted the gaps between Mass Communication students and the field of journalism. He emphasized the relevance of journalism to Mass Communication, considering it as the practical aspect of the theories taught in their classes. Anas stated, "If a mathematician, trained to find 'x,' or a lawyer taught to defend clients and plaintiffs, can have a passion for journalism, then why can't Mass Communication students, who are the primary owners of journalism?,"
He concluded by urging all Mass Communication students to take journalism seriously as a fundamental element of their field.
Inductees Express Happiness
In an exclusive interview with Janet Bala Sule, one of the inducted Mass Communication students, she expressed the challenges faced by students in the Mass Communication Department, particularly the lack of cooperation and teamwork. She advised that working together and supporting one another is a driving force for success. She said "It is crucial that we gain practical, hands-on experience, rather than just theoretical knowledge."
She concluded by hoping that NACJ members will take these challenges seriously and work to overcome them.
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Kpede Daniel, one of the inductees, stated, "Saying that I am glad to be part of NACJ would be a huge understatement. It has been one of the greatest opportunities I have ever had," he said outlining the likely future challenges, saying, "Anyone considering joining NACJ should be prepared for the challenges of multitasking."
He added that students should be focused, and dedicated, and cultivate good time management skills.
NACJ Executives React
When Vanguard Press reached out to the General Secretary of NACJ, Abdulrahman Abdulganiyu Akanbi, he expressed that the induction of Mass Communication students is a positive initiative. He presumed that with the orientation received at the congress today, these students would become committed and dedicated members. He further stressed that NACJ is focused on inducting only active members. "Inducting Mass Communication students is a good thing, though we are mostly concerned about inducting active members into NACJ, and I believe that these students will be active due to the orientation they have received today," he said.
"It is a life-promoting opportunity for Mass Communication students. Inducting them into NACJ is an opportunity for them to thrive," expressed Bilyaminu Mane, the Assistant Secretary-General of NACJ, in an exclusive WhatsApp chat with Vanguard Press . He further noted that NACJ members have broken many records and highlighted that there were no Mass Communication students among them. "The future of NACJ and UDUS is destined to be a brighter one
Journalism is for Mass Communication students. They are the rightful owners of journalism, so they are now at home."