BEING A PRESS BRIEFING BY THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA, PROF. CHINWE UZOCHUKWU, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 5TH 2021 AT THE PHILIP UBA MASS COMMUNICATION COMPLEX, UNIZIK

Gentlemen of the press, it is with great excitement that I welcome you all to this press briefing to intimate you on an upcoming event, Town & Gown Series, being organized by the Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. This event, coming up on Thursday, August 19th, 2021, is designed to bring a valuable interface between classroom and industry. It will serve as a unique opportunity to get communication practitioners of various hues to come and interact with our students on the practical issues in the industry.

For this maiden edition, we are being partnered by a non-governmental organisation, Beyond Community Care Foundation. We are immensely grateful to the founder of the organisation, Chief Dennis Ezebuilo, Ogbuodudu 11 ,the traditional ruler elect of Amanuke Eri Kingdom for his magnanimity in accepting to be our partner in this journey. The partnership was strategic because of the love of the Non Governmental organization founded by Chief Dennis Ezebuilo and his team ,My Community care foundation in developing and empowering people across ethnicity and religion.

This year, we have chosen the theme “Exploring Emerging Opportunities in Media and Communication” and the goal is to expose our students, through the voices of very experienced practitioners, to the emerging trends in the industry so as to prepare them for successful careers in the fast changing world of media and communication. To achieve this, we have lined up eminent practitioners who will be our resource persons on the day. The guest lecturer will be renowned broadcaster and media Manager, Mr Jika Atoh, who is currently the Executive Director, West Africa Broadcast & Media Academy. Our panel of discussants will include Managing Consultant, Gavinta & Associate Ltd and former Group Managing Director, Champion Newspapers, Mr Emma Agu; Broadcaster, Branding Specialist and Senior Special Assistant to Enugu State Governor on Electronic Media, Mr Carl Ofonye; Presenter/Producer & Head New Media Unit, Radio Nigeria [Coal City FM], Enugu, Mr Von Nwadukwe; Bureau Chief, Africa Independent Television, AIT, Enugu, Mr Ken Eseni; General Manager/Secretary Board of Directors, Kpakpando Media Group, Comrade Monic Okechukwu; and Chief Correspondent/Head of Investigative Desk, Punch Newspaper, Tessy Igomu.

Incidentally, some of these eminent media experts were products of the Mass Communication Department, UNIZIK, and we are proud and happy welcoming them back home where their experiences will be so valuable in
mentoring their junior ones still undergoing training here.

Furthermore, our chief host for the day will be the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Esimone. Former Managing Director, The Sun Newspapers and former Commissioner for Information & Culture, Anambra State, Chief Tony Onyima Phd, will be the Chairman on the occasion, while the MD/CEO of Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, Chief Uche Nworah, PhD will be the co-chair.
On the other hand, Media Aide to former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Barr Valentine Obienyem, will be the guest of honour.

This event will be held at the ASUU-NAU Secretariat in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. It will start at 9.00am prompt. While we look forward to a successful outing on 19th of August, we are also using this opportunity to invite members of the Fourth Estate to witness this landmark occasion where the industry and classroom will meet.

Thanks and God bless you.

Prof. Chinwe Uzochukwu, PhD
Head of Department, Mass Communication,
Nnamdi Azikiwe Universty