Eminent journalists, Mass Communications lecturers and students; and a federal lawmaker during the week extolled the virtues of the late icon of journalism,Mr Doyin Mahmud.
Speakers at the event organised by the Students of Mass Communications of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State included the senator representing Kwara north at the National Assembly,Umar Sadiq, the publisher of CableNews, Mr Simon Kolawole, the editor of Guardian on Sunday, Dr Kabir Garba, former commisioner for Information in Kwara State, Alh Raheem Adedoyin and a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) , Alh Saadu Salahu.
Mahmud, a former editor of The Herald; editor- in – chief of Daily Independent, and pioneer head of the department of the Mass Communications at the University of Ilorin, was honoured by lecturers and students of the department in an annual memorial lecture initiated in his honour.
All the speakers in their presentations paid glowing tributes to the late top editor and media executive.
The guest speakers spoke on the continuous relevance of youths in journalism vis a vis the emergence of social media in which it appears anybody is now a journalist.
They emphasised on the importance of upholding the ethics of the profession and putting the interest of the society into consideration anytime they are pushing out information to the public as news.
The speakers affirmed the outstanding qualities of late Mahmud, describing him as a great communication scholar and an excellent role model in the field of journalism.
The event which also served as a knowledge renewal to the lecturers and students in the department witnessed a presentation of papers in the field of journalism by Salahu, a public relations expert, broadcast journalist, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations ( NIPR), and former special adviser to Kwara state governor on strategy; Kolawole, founder and chief executive officer of the Cable Newspaper, and Dr. Garba, editor of The Guardian on Sunday.
The guest speakers spoke on the continuous relevance of youths in journalism vis a vis the emergence of social media in which it appears anybody is now a journalist.
They emphasized the importance of upholding the ethics of the profession and putting the interest of society into consideration anytime they are pushing out information to the public as news.
The trio affirmed the outstanding qualities of late Mahmud, describing him as a great communication scholar, an excellent role model in the field of journalism.
Also extolling the virtues Mahmud at the event, a veteran journalist and member of the executive board of the International Press Institute (IPI),Alh Raheem Adedoyin, described the late Mahmud, as a passionate journalist, a great academician, and a mentor who dedicated his lifetime to pursuing excellence in Journalism field where he also groomed many.
Adedoyin, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication charged the students to imbibe the virtues of good learning, discipline, and incorruptibility that made the late Mahmud immortal.
The media guru also tasked the traditional media to be more vigilant and remain professional in the midst of an unprofessional social media revolution.
Also, the editor of Weekend Guardian newspapers, Dr Kabir Garba, who delivered a paper on ‘Cultivating the next generation of engaged citizenry: the media’s role in empowering young people’ , described Mahmud as someone who lived a life of empowering humanity.
Garba who was represented by Barr. Abiodun Fagbemi said: “The life and times of Mr. Adedoyin Nureni Mahmoud epitomized empowering of humanity and young ones in the field of the media profession.”
The publisher of TheCable Newspaper, Mr Simon Kolawole who presented his lecture virtually, said although he did not work with the late Mahmud, he read a lot about the titan’s transformational work in the field of journalism
In his remarks, the main guest lecturer, Alh Saadu Salahu characterized Mahmud as a journalism icon “who made his footprints in the sand of times, leading in the battlefield by his pen to get Nigeria returned to Democratic government and freer society which many contemporary younger Nigerians take for granted.
Salahu urged the Nigerian youths to take advantage of billion naira worth of career opportunities that are abound in the communication industry.
Salahu told the youths, especially the students of Mass Communications, that such opportunities are abound in public relations,advertising ,corporate communication management appointment, marketing ,content strategist and broadcast sub – sector .
He added that:” The communication sector is therefore an enviable sector for making star, fame, reputable leaders and role models inspiring millions of others through patriotism and inestimable contributions to making Nigeria the best place for human environment .
“ As a matter of fact , Nigerian history is full of inspiring stories of contributions of media practitioners, journalists and public relations practitioners who made their footprints on sands of time in pre , during , post independence era and indeed contemporary Nigeria .
“Dear students, proceeding further from the proud legacy of your late pioneer HOD, it must be emphasized that being students of this department offers you all a rare opportunity to build a solid foundation for your academic and professional careers in the multi billion naira communication industry.”
He advised the youths to seek the right media literacy skills to be able to delineate positive media contents from the negative ones;
embrace the good behaviors and shun the bad ones; such as cultism, drug abuse, rape,thuggery, examination malpractice and anything having to do with rituals or fetish activities .
Salahu, a former special adviser on Strategy in Kwara State acknowledged the contribution of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
to the development and promotion of Nigerian journalists.
“Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is on record as the first Nigerian Governor to have mainstreamed highest number of media practitioners and journalists into the political leadership . The list includes Hameed Adio formerly of NTA , Bashiru Adigun of Channels Television , Kayode Adeyipo , Radio Kwara , Tina Olaoye also of Radio Kwara and Kayode Aremu formerly of Sobi FM . Others include Rafiu Ajakaiye , Solace and your guest speaker who served both in the capacity of Special Adviser political and Strategy respectively just to mention a few .
“In addition,Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has received several international awards for being the first Nigeria Governor to have considered the highest number of women and youths for inclusion in his political appointments .
“For the first time in the history of Kwara State , you now have five women lawmakers in the State House of Assembly and nine women as commisssioner- nominees. And education , health , security , agriculture , youths and women empowerement lead in the priorities of his government ,” Salahu stated.
The event also witnessed the launching of the department’s magazine, ‘The Lens’ by the senator representing Kwara north senatorial district at the National Assembly , Sadiq Umar who described Mahmud as “ a Collosus whose mentoring is evident in journalism practice today”.
The federal lawmaker advised the students on the importance of quality mentorship.
Umar said : “Mentorship is very important in shaping and determining your future, you must be circumspect in picking who you want to take as a role model because it has to be someone that would inspire you to be a value-added member of the society by being an exemplary person in your chosen career.”
The senator identified the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as his mentor and a silent achiever with uncommon qualities.He launched the Magazine with the sum of N1m.
Four distinguished personalities were also given awards of recognition for their outstanding contribution to the development of the Mass communication department of the University.
The awardees were former senior special adviser to the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on strategy, Alh Saadu Salahu, the chief press secretary to the governor, Mal. Rafiu Ajakaye, the chief executive officer of Cable Newspapers,Mr Simon Kolawole, and a philanthropist, Alh Najim Jimoh, who has been producing the nagazine in honour of the late Doyin Mahmud at every annual lecture free of charge.
Other notable personalities that graced the event included Dr. Bashir Ibrahim, Dr. Ghali Alaaya, director of Corporate Affairs Unit of the University of Ilorin, Alh Kunle Akogun, regional editor of LEADERSHIP newspaper in the north central, Dr Yunus Baraje of Kwara State University, Malete, Engr Sikiru Oloje and lecturers in the host department.
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