MMI holds second workshop

Though the premises of the university had lost its usual buzz of students due to the commencement of a strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, yet the Debb and Isaac Media technical crew moved in their computers, sound gadgets, printers, banners and other equipments, the few lecturers around moved up and down the stairs to make sure all was well, while facilitators walked in to set up training facilities, and the few chosen students walked in with high expectations, given the testimonies of their colleagues who were beneficiaries of the first edition of the workshop. Friday, September 24 2010 was the day and it was the opening day of the second edition of the Funke-Treasure Media Mentoring Initiative workshop series at the Lagos State University.

The short opening ceremony started with the MC introducing the initiator of the project Mrs Funke Treasure Durodola an international broadcast journalist and top News reader, presenter/producer with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria; in her speech she stated her drive for giving back to the society that gave to her and highlighted the vision of the Initiative for mentoring Mass Communication students in Nigerian universities in the next 3 years. Supported by the initiator’s colleagues who are renowned media professionals in TV and Radio, the quarterly workshops held its first edition in June 2010 with a four day workshop in News feature reporting for both radio and TV students of the university, the September edition however was a 2 day workshop for TV students on Creativity in Production/story telling skills.

Targeted at final year students, the obviously excited undergraduates didn’t have to wait too long as work started immediately and true to the standards of its debut, it was as practical, thorough and learner centered as can ever be imagined. They tried out media skills missing in most Nigerian tertiary institution’s communication degree syllabus and which they never thought they could acquire in their four to five academic year experience, these include scripting for TV, video editing, camera use and shot composition, understanding storyboards, fundamental formats in broadcasting…etc.

With personalities like international producer Lloyd Weaver as Chief facilitator, Ify Onyegbule (Presenter – Woman of Substance on TVC), Bunmi Davies (Producer – Stand Up Nigeria), Keni Akintoye (media/creative consultant and member of the pop group Twin-X) with other thoroughbred media practitioners as guest facilitators and the Host facilitator Funke Treasure bringing their wealth of industry experience and international exposure to train the student and of course somehow their celebrity status to inspire them. The initiator’s dream was obvious in the general training approach as the focus was rather on the students’ status and needs to develop practical workplace productivity to make them employable and build their capacity for self employment.

With funding for the project coming from her personal savings, supported by friends and her immediate family and the facilitators having offered their services for free, the next workshop is in December 2010 with another set of student beneficiaries and she intends to continue and expand to other institutions for as long as there are younger people studying Mass communication and truly interested in the media business. Having enjoyed all of the training sessions, tea break and lunch, handouts free of charge; how far this beautiful initiative can survive without corporate sponsorship leaves the faculty and students of the Lagos State University with something to worry about.