*Call for change in
education curriculum, as ACSPN unaugurate exco
Communication scholars and media industry experts have advocated for change in the
mass communication curriculum to adequately equip communication graduates
with requisite knowledge and skills critical for functioning in the contemporary media
workspace.
According to Dr. Chukwudi Anyianuka,
Secretary, ACSPN, Enugu State Chapter, in a statement, noted that doing so has become imperative for driving national development.
The call was made at the inauguration of executives and lecture of the Association of
Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), Enugu State Chapter,
with the topic, “Marketing Communication in the Digital Media Age: Need to Review,
Reload and Rejig our Educational Curriculum for National Development”, which took place recently.
Chairperson of the occasion, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, who is also a member, ACSPN Board of Trustees and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Paul University, Awka, expressed
satisfaction with the activities of the Chapter since it joined the national ACSPN
train, and charged members to remain focused on implementing the vision and
mission of the association.
Delivering the lecture of the day, veteran advertising practitioner and Managing Director,
Hillheights Media Solutions Limited, Mr. Ike Ezugwu, stated that the business of
advertising and public relations is rapidly migrating from the industrial to digital
media platforms, as target audiences are now netizens that rarely patronize
hardcopy publications. “This has necessitated the acquisition of digital media skills,
requiring an immediate review of the educational curriculum and proper funding of
communication education, to ensure that skills of mass communication graduates
are honed along this line,” he said.
Senior Special Assistant, Media Relations to the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Uche
Anichukwu, acknowledged the paucity in education funding in
Nigeria, stating that it justifies Enugu State’s decision to spend 30% of the 2024
budget on education.
In his remark, Mr. Okey Odogwu, Managing Director, Dream 92.5 FM, Enugu, explained that the broadcasting sector was facing crisis due to the rise of digital journalism,
which has resulted in the massive layoff of staff in the industry.
“We
are struggling in the broadcast media and no longer make money. We no longer get
jingles because of the bad economy. Firms are also struggling and now placing their
advertisements mainly on social media,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr. Hilary Ozoh, Communication
Specialist at the UNICEF, commended the association and urged it to fulfill its
mandate of maintaining a synergy between communication scholarship and
practice.
On his part, Dr. Reuben Onyishi, Senior Special Assistant, New Media, to the Enugu
State Governor, observed that digital media journalism had been populated by
charlatans, and advised practitioners to take their communication skills seriously
and maintain ethical standards when deploying digital media tools for content
creation.
The highlight of the event was the inauguration, oath taking and pledge of allegiance
of the newly elected eight-member strong executives, administered by Barr. Chizoba
Agbo, Public Relations Officer, African Women Lawyers Association, Enugu State.
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