From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
The recent Empowerment workshop organised by the ‘Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals(ACSPN), Enugu state chapter, held at Institute of Management and Technology(IMT), Enugu was a veritable opportunity for Media professionals, Communication experts in diverse fields to interact with their lecturers and other mentors.
Most especially, the Alumni Association of Mass Communication students,Institute of Management and Technology(IMT),1992/95 set, took out time to grasp,embrace and interface with one of their mentors and inspirator,Professor Stella Chinyere Okunna.
Among the 92/95 IMT Alumni(Mass Comm.Dept) were Barr Ifeoma Nwagbara, the current 92/95 Alumni President, Comrade Maurice Okafor,Enugu bureau chief of The Authority Newspaper, Mr Evaristus Onyebuchi Ozioko, a lecturer at IMT (Mass Comm Dept), and Mr Charles Obasi,an Advert practitioner,among others.
Professor Stella Okunna is a distinguished Communication guru whose expertise both in the class room and public administration has remained a reference point of standard.
In the past three decades or thereabout, she has mentored communication students in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria,including IMT Enugu and Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka. She has attended many workshops/seminars on Mass Communication strategies as guest lecturer or key note speaker beyond the shores of Nigeria.
On merit,She served as Commissioner for Information in Anambra state under Mr Peter Obi administration.Thereafter,She resumed her services at Mass Communication department,Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka,Anambra state.
It was not a suprise that her presence at ACSPN workshop held at Department of Mass Communication,IMT,Enugu,on Thursday August 31,added colour to the event.
The Empowerment series workshop with theme”Journalism in the online and Social Media Age” aimed at stemming the tide of fake news that often emanates and propagated by online Media practitioners,mostly the bloggers,cautioning it is very unprofessional and unethical.
it was defined that many of the bloggers are untrained journalists who avail thenselves of the opportunity of owning a smart phone to embark on the usual and common’Citizen journalism, in the process dishing out unverified and unbalanced information to members of the public.
By so doing,tarnishing the image of the noble profession.
A clarion call for Communication scholars to learn and embrace the ethics of the profession so they can perform better when in the field was emphasised by various speakers at the event.
The Special adviser(external affairs) to Enugu state Governor,Dr Peter Mbah,Comrade Uche Anichukwu, in his brief speech tasked Media practitioners to embrace Development Journalism in their practice,as a gateway of encouraging good governance and developiment in the society for the good of all.
The ACSPN workshop hosted by Enugu state chapter was attended by Communication experts and professionals from different parts of the country.They include Professor Ifenyinwa Nsude frorrm Ebonyi state university,who is also the ACSPN chairperson,Ebonyi state chapter,Prof Mike Ukonu, Dr Ferdinand Obasi,Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu,Dr Apeh,among others.
The interim Secretary, ACSPN,Enugu chapter,Dr Chukwudi Anyianuka,on behalf of the management of Mass Communication Department,IMT expressed gratitude to all wno carved out time to attend the one day workshop.
