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.

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By Amaechi Agbo

The Rector, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Prof Gozie Ogbodo has described the institute as the incubation hub that feeds media houses in Nigeria with trained graduates.

Prof Ogbodo who stated this in a recent media interaction, noted that the Department of Mass Communication in the institution is renowned for producing quality graduates who had gone ahead to excel in the media industry both nationally and globally.

“What IMT is doing as an institute which is very renowned in Mass Communication and has produced very reputable nationally and internationally acclaimed professionals in media, is that we are the incubation institute which is feeding many of the media agencies in Nigeria.

“The work we are doing here is benefiting agencies like FRCN, AIT, Arise News, The Guardian, Punch, and all that. We believe that with their continued support, we would definitely have a strong partnership which would help our students become best graduates and come out with better professions in the media field. So, the work we are doing no doubt complements each of them,” he stated.

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Enugu – The Rector of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Prof. Gọzie Ogbodo, has assured his students that his leadership is committed to implementing policies and programmes that will positively impact their lives.

Prof. Ogbodo made this known on Friday during a debate competition and empowerment programme organized by the Student Union Government of the institution, led by Comrade Ekene Eze.

He stated that the school management, under his leadership, has concluded plans with the State Water Corporation to provide a 24/7 water supply within the next few weeks.

He further revealed that discussions are ongoing with private partners and investors to renovate two abandoned hostels in the school, with more projects in the pipeline aimed at making the campus more vibrant.

According to him, “I bring you good news from the management of this great citadel of knowledge. In the spirit of the Valentine season, I want to assure our students that we are committed to enhancing real campus life. This is why we have finalized plans with the Enugu State Water Corporation to ensure a constant water supply to our school and hostels. Additionally, we are in talks with private investors to renovate and remodel two abandoned hostels into world-class accommodations. We want our buildings to be of global standards, providing our students with better living conditions and helping them save costs.”

Prof. Ogbodo also commended the efforts of the state governor in advancing education, stating that his policies have significantly transformed knowledge acquisition in the state.

“As you can see, we have a governor who is committed to education. With all the policies and programs he has introduced, which will also benefit our institution, we can confidently say that our tomorrow is here.”

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh, urged the students to embrace hard work in their academic pursuits. He stated that the state government, led by Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, which has allocated over 33% of the state’s budget to education, has demonstrated a practical commitment to advancing learning.

Hon. Onoh, who was represented by Mr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, assured the audience that his administration has already initiated programs aimed at improving education and learning.

In his address, the member representing Enugu East Rural Constituency, Hon. Osita Okoh, urged students to prioritize their academics and avoid distractions that could jeopardize their future. He further assured them that he would play his role in ensuring the enactment of education-friendly laws in the state.

Earlier in his remarks, the Student Union Government President, Comrade Ekene Eze, stated that the aim of the program was to revive the spirit of critical thinking among students and to support indigent students with essential items. He reiterated his leadership’s commitment to students’ welfare and assured that efforts were underway to collaborate with the school management in addressing students’ most pressing needs.

Comrade Eze also praised Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State for his student-friendly policies, emphasizing that IMT students are pleased with his administration.

“We believe that the partnership between the school management, the government, and the student leadership will yield meaningful progress. Our goal is to ensure that students not only acquire knowledge but also experience a conducive learning environment that fosters personal and academic growth,” he added.

Highlights of the event included;Distribution of laptops to enhance digital learning, empowerment of students with weaving machines and sewing machines to support vocational skills as well as Provision of essential food items, including Indomie noodles, bags of rice, and spaghetti, to assist indigent students.

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The Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has urged students of the university to make judicious use of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELfund) provided by the Federal Government.

The VC gave the charge on Friday in Enugu during the South East sensitization visit by the NELFund to three tertiary institutions in Enugu – Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT).

The sensitization workshop held at the Moot Court Auditorium of UNN, Enugu Campus, had ESUT VC, UNN VC as well as IMT Rector in attendance. Other high profile individuals at the workshop include the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for South East, Barr Chioma Nweze; the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELfund, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, among others.

Delivering his speech, ESUT Vice-Chancellor commended the Federal Government for initiating the student loan fund adding that the the management of ESUT has put machineries in place to ensure seamless application by the students.

While charging the students to leverage on the opportunity, he noted that ESUT management
Has employed the services of computer experts to help the students in their applications.

“I want to commend the management of NELfund for this sensitisation in South East tertiary institutions. It is here that misconceptions will be corrected and students guided appropriately on how to apply for the loan.

“At ESUT, we encourage students to apply for the loan because this is their money. We have deployed the services computer experts to guide them in their application. I have no doubt, whatsoever, that this programme by the government will aid education at this level in the country,” he said.

Addressing the students from the three institutions, Barr Chioma Nweze urged them to make best use of the opportunity to actualise their educational dream. She explained that the application for the loan, which is interest free, is session based, that student can apply for each session.

She stressed that repayment of the loan takes effect two years after the beneficiaries have concluded their national youth service.

She explained criteria required for the application. “Students can apply using their JAMB registration number, matriculation number, BVN, NIN, no surety is needed. Outside the school fees, NELfund also gives ₦20,000 to ₦40,000 stipends for students’ upkeep. NELfund operates through any bank of the students’ choice,” she said.

Highlights of the sensitization workshop was disbursement of ₦5000 each to the first 100 students to arrive at the venue of the meeting. Barr Nweze who made the pledge prior to the commencement of programme, gave the students the money adding that the gesture was to encourage them for seeing the need to attend the programme.

ESUT Monitor can authoritatively report that NELfund has disbursed students loans to 59 institutions including five from the South East region.

Institutions from the South-East that have already benefited from the loan include: Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State; Ebonyi State University; Abia State University; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Anambra State, sharing ₦467 million among them.

According to a list obtained from the NELFUND, Alex Ekueme Federal University Ndufu, Ebonyi State, got N193,377,100; Michael Okpara University, got N71,016,220; Abia State University, had N12,469,5003; Federal Polytechnic, Nkede, Imo State, got N368,400; and Ebonyi State University students got N78,313,000.

A total of ₦50 billion was budgeted for the NELFund in the 2024 with a total of ₦2.1 billion already disbursed

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