UNIZIK SKILL UP 1.O: NUJ Chairman, Odogwu, ABS MD, Obidiegwu, Other Entrepreneurs challenge students

BY Chinaza Osigwe and Chioma Abigail Mbah, Awka.

Young but successful Chief Executive Officers of organizations and Entrepreneurs per excellence as well as professionals in journalism and Public Relations field converged on Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Saturday to motivate the students on the need to develop some skills before graduation.

The event organized by the 30th house of the Students Union Government, SUG, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Unizik through the SUG Public Relations office headed by Comr. Oscar Azolibe at the weekend was entitled ” Exploring opportunities in Public Relations and empowering students with journalistic skills”.

The event hosted at the university auditorium was inspiring to most of the students in attendance as most of them went home with one incentive or the other.

The guest speakers who were chosen with the utmost care to make the occasion a successful one include, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Chairman NUJ, Anambra State Council, Chido Obidiegwu, MD/CEO ABS, Dr. Nzube Ekebosi, CEO Reliable Homes, Izuchukwu Ejikeme, SUG President of the school, Hon. Benedict Soludo, SA to Governor Soludo, Engineer Emmanuel Opurum, CEO Soltek Ltd. and CEO BenioDigital, Mr Emmanuel Ononenyi.

The Keynote speaker, and Chairman of NUJ, Anambra State Council, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu encouraged the students to make good use of their phones in this digital era to make a living. He spoke on ” The need to cultivate journalism skills as a student”.He gave instances of how he was able to actualize most of his desires with the money he got from his blog with just his smart phone and encouraged students to horn a skill in any of the social media platforms available for better tomorrow.

He further encouraged the students to carve a niche for themselves from the nine courses available in the field of journalism as the opportunities to shine are now limitless.

He said” It was Mass communication before when we studied, but it is now nine courses and that means more money for hardworking chaps with their smart phones as they can become content creators for as many platforms as available.

Carve a niche for yourself and make your money”
He emphasized on the need for aspiring Journalists to listen to gossip positively as it’s the first source of information, but warned them to always confirm it before writing on it.

The MD/CEO of ABS, Awka , Chido Obidiegwu, speaking at the event highlights the importance of sharpening ones writing skill in order to succeed as a journalist. He spoke on the sub topic “Exploring career opportunities in Integrated Communication” He emphasised greatly on the need to speak well. He encouraged students in attendance to battle with stage fright in order to succeed. He enumerated four rules aspiring journalists should adhere to. They include, Humility, sticking to time, avoiding truancy and most importantly report facts and objectively.
In his words” If you are speaking to an audience, always go with your aid memoir. In your career as a journalist, follow these rules, Humility, sticking to time, avoid truancy and report with facts”

The CEO of Reliable Homes, Dr Nzube Ekebosi has this to say at the occasion “The first transaction that made me a millionaire was from social media ,Facebook precisely. If you are not digitally inclined, go and learn it. Do not only rely on textbooks to pass your exams, offer your skill to a company or mentor”
He strongly advised the students to become digitally minded. He persuaded them to follow the digital era and pave the way for their success.

On his part, CEO BenioDigital, Mr Emmanuel Ononenyi told the students that to succeed in life one needs the God factor. He emphasized greatly on the need for one to be consistent and submissive to succeed, while
Engineer Emmanuel Opurum of Soltec Engineering demonstrated on reliability and consistency on one’s skill as constant change of skills may jeopardize one’s bright moment, informing that he has been 10 years on Cybersecurity and related digital world expanding his visibility. He warned on the get quick soon mindset of young entrepreneurs without gestation period. He advised them to use their talent to ads value to their friends and make them ever needed companions to them for the value they are adding.

The SUG President of Unizik, Comrade Izuchukwu Ejikeme while thanking all that attended foe motivating the students to skill up,
appealed on Governor Soludo to remember the students suffering along Ifite Awka road to Amansea by reconstructing the road already awarded to reduce their suffering.

The SA to Governor Soludo, Hon Ben Soludo reassured that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is committed to changing the narratives as he already awarded the road , and appealed to the students community to be patient as the construction will start soon. He reminded the students how PR from his Co students propelled his work as a student and made him a brand to reckon with.

The climax of the occasion was the gifting of ₦10,000 grant to three lucky student winners of Business idea pitch competition.

The Office of the Public Relations Officer promised to give a ₦10,000 grant to 3 students into business who passes the criteria of the judges.

Comr. Oscar Azolibe the host of the event in his closing remarks thanked everyone for honouring his invitation whilst saying that more are to come. He specifically thanked Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu for staying throughout the occasion whilst describing him as a mentor. He thanked the SUG President under whose adminstration the programme was hosted. He also thanked the CEO of Soltek Ltd, an alumni of the university and every other person present.

Comrade Azolibe concluded: ‘ a personal brand is a representation of how you want people to perceive you. This includes who you are, what you stand for, and what makes you unique.

“Whether you work for an enterprise-level company or you are an entrepreneur, establishing a personal brand will help you appeal to decision-makers who can help you achieve new Levels of success and open doors you never knew existed’.