By Joseph Joy

Mass Communication students have been urged to emulate practitioners with track records as role models as they aspire to practice the profession after leaving school.

The Rector, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, Professor Gozie Ogbodo gave the advice in an interview with ESUT Monitor recently.

Speaking on the backdrop of the retirement of the Zonal Deputy Director of Programmes, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Enugu South-East Zone, Mr Gregory Odiakosa recently, Prof Ogbodo charged Mass Communication Students to look at gentlemen who have excelled in the profession to emulate and imbibe qualities that would set them apart from others.

“I would tell media practitioners, including students who are studying Mass Communication, they should look at gentlemen and women who have excelled in the field and watch them and emulate them as their role models. Because there are basic qualities that you would identify in all of these professionals – get disciplined, integrity, hardwork.

“These are virtues journalists, young media practitioners must begin to emulate. And if you don’t have it, you would never ever end up like them. So, I encourage young people to identify role models in the profession and look at their lifestyles, work ethics, discipline, and you would now see what makes the difference between the good and the bad in any profession,” he said.

Gregory Odiakosa retired from FRCN as Deputy Director, South East Zone earlier this year after 35 years in service.