MTN Nigeria and Pan-Atlantic University launch Media Innovation Programme (MIP)

MTN Nigeria and Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) today announced the launch of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP), which will be run by PAU’s School of Media and Communication (SMC).

The six-month, fully funded fellowship for Nigerian media practitioners is designed to support the sustainable development of the nation’s changing media scene. It is open to media practitioners across the spectrum, including print, electronic, online platforms and social media content creators.

The course is designed to give participants a greater understanding of Nigeria’s technology sector and the nexus between media and technology; it will also leave participants better able to adapt to changing realities. Fellows will also have access to professional resources and mentorship from the SMC faculty.

“We are driven by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected world and are driving accelerated growth by leading digital solutions for Nigeria’s progress. Against this backdrop, the media landscape continues changing at remarkable speeds, boosted by new technologies. Thus, it is only fitting that we support developments in the Nigerian media space with our infrastructure and enable capacity building initiatives to enable innovation in media practice.

“It’s a delight to partner with the Pan-Atlantic University, who, through their expertise, have contributed to the professional development of the media industry, not only in Nigeria but across Africa,” Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria, noted during the launch event.

“The School of Media and Communication was established to train professionals who will uphold the highest intellectual, ethical and professional values that promote creativity, critical knowledge, social responsibility and the spirit of enterprise. The MTN Media Innovation Programme could not have come at a better time for Nigerian media practitioners to imbibe these pertinent values,” Professor Enase Okonedo, Vice Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, added.

The course, fully sponsored by MTN Nigeria, will be available to twenty (20) successful applicants.

Interested media practitioners can visit https://smc.edu.ng/mtnmip/ to apply.

–ENDS–

Knowledge exchange session with Filmmaker, Stanlee Ohikhuare

MTN MIP

“This gathering was to share research-based knowledge, something from research which I have been doing for a couple of years about how to light the black race.” The director/cinematographer, Stanlee Ohikhuare, said this while speaking at a one-day workshop on the 23rd of April, 2022. The workshop was organised by the Nollywood Studies Centre of the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University and supported by Zenith Bank Plc.

During the workshop, Stanlee Ohikhuare presented a formula for lighting the black race in film. According to him, “the entire film world is actually just configured around making movies and lighting Caucasian actors, and the emphasis on people of the black descent has not been really strong.” Stanlee, a trained fine artist and painter who communicates strongly with visual images, added, “So I went ahead to do some research and to find out the best practices that could help us to get this lighting done in a way that can be called a formula, something that is consistent, something that can be replicated, something that can be repeated and works every time that it is done.”

The research was carried out over various years under the auspices of the collective, Native Doctors. In the words of Stanlee, who is also the founder of M-JOT Studio, the goal is “to share the results in the midst of academic people, schools, universities, both in Nigeria and abroad so that we can add this to the archive, and people can go back and use it as material for research in the near future.”

The workshop was the first public presentation of the formula, which is a major contribution to filmmaking. The formula will subsequently be presented to a global audience via an international tour. The workshop was a success and had many young industry practitioners in attendance.

Alumnus in Focus – Meksley Nwagboh

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, my name is Meksley Nwagboh, a father to three lovely kids and

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married to an amazing woman. I can be very driven and committed when I set my heart to doing anything. Over the years, I have had to learn how to manage that drive and commitment so that it is not perceived as being overly aggressive. I am all about setting goals, trying new things, learning something about everything and always making one available to serve whenever called upon. I think if you stay close to me, you will probably notice my penchant for detail, orderliness, discipline and hardwork.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not a boring person. Many who know me, will tell you I am often the life of the pack, you perfect blend of sunshine yellow and fiery red temperaments.

 

  1. Tell us about your career path.

I started out at MTN Nigeria in 2007 and joined Guaranty Trust Bank plc in 2008 and was posted to the commercial banking division. While there I established and managed several of the key relationships in the Ikeja region. This helped my development as it helped me in improving my skills in public speaking and relationship management. Over the course of my career at GTBank, I worked in several other branches and got the chance to manage several key relationships in the bank and to this day, I have a relationship with almost all of them. In 2015, I took the giant leap from core sales to the marketing and communications unit of the bank. While working there, I was in charge of public relations and crisis communications and eventually became the Head of Corporate Communications and the bank’s spokesperson. To this day, I am forever grateful to my bosses for the opportunity they gave me to learn despite coming from a core sales background. Mind you, my core academic background was in Industrial chemistry. In 2018, having worked in a “big bank” across several units like events, CSR, product marketing, online infrastructure management, internal comms, media relations etc, I resigned from the bank and joined Coronation Merchant Bank. In terms of career decisions, looking back, that was probably the best decision I had ever made. You see, Coronation was a breath of fresh air and presented a totally different challenge. At GTBank, most of the primary marketing functions were already established and you then built on them. At Coronation, I was tasked with setting up the marketing function and developing a brand strategy covering brand positioning, social media, CSR, corporate identity, marketing policies etc. Let me just add, that it was fun from the very first day to my very last day and I learnt so much while at Coronation. In a way, it prepared me for my next and hopefully, final career move to Fidelity Bank in January 2022 as the Chief Marketing Officer of the Bank

  1. What do you have to say about new beginnings since assuming your new role as the Chief Marketing Officer of Fidelity Bank?

 

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Embrace them. First, I pray and get God’s leading to proceed. I have received several offers in the past to lead the marketing & communications functions of some banks but when I prayed, God said NO and so, I rejected the offer. Once you have the clarity in your spirit (which you will know by the peace you feel in your mind) my advice is that you embrace every new beginning that life throws at you. If you look around, you will observe that even life is designed to function on the principle of new beginnings and seasons. There is a new day, new week, new month, New Year, new decade, new parents, new baby, new job etc so we really can’t run from it. As regards my new beginning at Fidelity, these are still very early days but I can tell you for a fact that I have loved every single day spent here.

 

  1. How did your time at SMC help to prepare/impact you for your current career?

Truth is, most major changes I have had in my career came as I was just completing a program at SMC. In 2013, I started my Master’s program at the school. I resigned from GTBank in 2014 to allow me sufficient time to focus on my studies. As I was concluding my studies at SMC, I rejoined GTBank to oversee public relations, communications and crisis management. The same thing happened in 2021. I had enrolled for my PhD in 2016 and just as I was about to finish, Fidelity came calling.  While we can attribute the 2015 encounter to chance, the 2021 event definitely became a pattern. Who knows what would happen next if I undertake another major program at the school. [He laughs]

 

  1. What are you most proud of from your experience at SMC?

First is the system the school has built. SMC is simply world-class.

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Everyone knows their job and does their job without requiring any form of third-party inducement. They have built a system that is efficient and I am proud we have such a school in Nigeria. Secondly, are the people (facilitators and students). You would often find managing directors and corporate executives of big execs in your class. The most beautiful part is that chances are that your classmates move on to become top officials in large corporations and public parastatals. So the relationship you build there is priceless and would serve you a lifetime.

 

  1. What does a typical day look like for you as the Chief Marketing Officer of Fidelity Bank?

 

Meksley Nwagboh

I love what I do and my advice to anyone in paid employment is to ensure that whatever role or function you have in an organization, must be one that gives expression to your God-given talent. If you are analytical, do something that helps you analyse all day. If you are gifted with your hands, do something that gives your hands the liberty to express themselves. If you do this, you will be happy at your job and every typical day in the office will be exciting, engaging, informing and passion-filled for you and that’s how my typical day as CMO is.

  1. How do you keep up with your work and family life?

I think it’s unrealistic for anyone to expect a balance in their work and family life. It simply doesn’t work that way. Rather the goal should be to have work-life equilibrium. You see, life is not measured in absolutes but in averages. There will be days when the job will demand more and there will be days when the family will demand more. However, over time, when we add all the overages for work and family, there must be a balance. I think that is a more realistic goal and that’s what I have had. Also, it helps to have a very understanding spouse who knows that you are committed to the family even when you are not there and that the only reason why you aren’t present is that you have tried everything to make it but simply couldn’t. This is where family communication plays a key role, if you don’t communicate this level of commitment to your family members, they will interpret your absence as not being committed to them.

 

  1. What are the qualities you seek in young people and prospective employees?

Three things really and these three things guide my life. Number one is

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effort. Don’t kid yourself or be fooled by peer pressure, to get ahead in life, you must put the work in. There are no short-cuts or free meals anymore. Even the government is removing subsidies [He laughs]. It is the effort you put in today that pays off tomorrow. Think about a farmer that plants a seed. He waters it every day and continues to water it even though he doesn’t see anything. Today, science has taught us that even though the farmer sees nothing happening on the soil, something is happening inside the soil and in time will produce a sprout if the farmer remains consistent in watering the ground. What you find today is people expecting success without putting in work. The second is numbers. It is one thing to apply effort to one thing and expect one thing in return but imagine what would happen if you applied effort in five different things, your expectation would increase 5-fold. Successfully may not know everything but they definitely know something about everything. Simply put, you are measured by the “number” of results you produce. The bible echoes this when Jesus taught us about the parable of talents or what I call the parable of numbers. The good servant was the one that increased the number of talents he was given while the bad servant maintained the talent as he/she received it. So, if you want to get my attention, I must see you learning new things, trying new ventures, acquiring new skills etc. Lastly and most importantly, is creativity. This is the glue that holds the other two principles. There is always a better way to get things done and the most successful people find that way. They are always finding new and better ways to do things and this for me really, is where the magic lies. So, I look for three qualities – effort, numbers and creativity – when accessing people

 

  1. What three books would we find on your bookshelf at home?

You’d probably find Aig Imokhuedo’s ‘Leaving the Tarmac’, What would Google do by Jeff Jarvis and my book titled Building The Nigerian Dream which I published in 2013.

My Fascination with African Culture! by Ifeyinwa Awagu Esq

My Fascination with African Culture!

 

Behold the African culture! Behold the allure of familism and tough parenting! That style of living where kinship, parental authority, family bonds, and mutual interdependence hold sway. Warmth is the cord; respect is the compass; cooperation and support constitute the spine of the affiliative spirit that fuel family relationships. The family is nuclear and extended and family ties are prioritized. So frequent in celebrating robustly but hosting of feasts and festivals are collective. There is always one celebrant, but multi heads of resources from all that counts as family members. Each member contributes according to the capacity and available resources. Never alone in joy and sorrow, good mental hygiene is enabled. The individual is subsumed in the family while the family prioritizes the wellbeing of every family member. The ripples of kinship bind the community into a family. Every child is a child of the community; every adult is a parent to all children in the community. Though the burden of this bond could sometimes be overwhelming, communalism and solidarity are seen as superior to individualism.

Parental authority encompasses overt discipline, obligation, support,

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and referent. Spare the child and spoil the rod underlying parental directives. Reprimands and sanctions accompany misconduct. Love and praises are covert in the attitudes and behavior of the parents towards the children. Wisdom resides in maintaining family honor in decisions and behavior.  Obedience to parents, respect to elders of the family, and others outside the family are sources of blessings. The child takes up responsibilities in the family wellbeing  dutifully.

Behold a culture that is now more in the past than in the present! Behold the regret of individualism and soft parenting! Is the centrality of familism waning, or taking different dimensions? The extended family network is overtaken by focus on personal achievement. The community and the adults have little or nothing to add to parenting the children of the others. The parents have “invisible” competitors in providing guidance and directions to their children. The ubiquitous media abound in role models. For the children and adolescents, there is push and pull over the values ingrained in the family culture and the external influence. Some measure the standards of parental discipline and love with those of the other climes in the media content they consume. The parents have to deal with adopting parenting styles in tune with the children’s expectations or struggle with the children’s opposition to the high parenting authority. Whether soft parenting or tough parenting, the answer resides in the results reaped from global history and experiences!

My fascination with Africa lies in the beauty of her values and norms that entrench us in the realms of the essence of creation. The nature of man is cultivated in filiation and fraternity. The community of kinship with a high level of family bonds provide succor to life challenges. Would the community of ideologies be more effective than family bonds? My fascination with Africa is not nostalgic! It is the dynamism of culture which breathes with the best practices in the civilization of humanity.

 

Ifeyinwa Awagu Esq is the Director, Institute of Humanities at Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

Setting the Pace on Every Race; FT8

Setting the Pace on Every Race; FT8

by Anthonia Elemoso

That beautiful morning, we had listened to three facilitators talk about how we were about to embark on a tough race, but we had no imagination or idea how tough it would be.

Few hours before, we had shared our stories, experiences, and the varied but similar reasons we individually chose this particular race. Some had funny stories, some sassy attitude and some appeared intimidated listening to others’ achievements. Then we had the ones that spoke with boldness and a sprinkle of pride; some spoke beautifully and a few like me laughing loud gently sat behind waiting to see where we were headed. Little did we know that the race was going to humble us in different ways.

After those introductory speeches came a wise man called “Sly”. He stood before the class and chipped a piece of advice. “I will advise that you bond and have fun while on this (race).” It sounded generic but it was the best advice we got. It was truly race with different participants and diverse goals, but we didn’t lose sight of our togetherness. We ran together. Through the pressure, through the heat, we kept flying no defeat. Speaking of flying, our cars “flew” at different times when we had to drive to school the morning after a long night of assignments to beat the almighty Turnitin countdown. Yet, we stood, “WE PIN”.

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At various intervals we would take another route on the race to enliven ourselves and refill our tanks. We sang, we cooked, we ate, we danced, we partied, we read, we did not sleep, we tutored, we fought, we went on a getaway, had movie nights, we slept and prayed…together. And I remember our Old School Day and Trad Day!We even had a class anthem (Lol). We didn’t only study for a Masters in Media & Communication; we practically became the masters of “study and chop life balance” and we were audacious about it.

We expected the race to be refining, but we didn’t quite expect the precious stones we have turned out to be. Who would have known that a year together would birth great friendships, lot of laughter, tears, and awesome memories? Now we are celebrating marriages, promotions, relocations, childbirth, and beautiful memories together as we grow. We came to bag a degree, but we bagged a lot more; more that we will cherish forever. And, we left a mark! We were more than a class; we were and still remain a family. Thank you FT8, thank you SMC.

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-Anthonia Elemoso, FT8.

Alumnus in Focus – Alex Eyengho

In this question and answer session, Alex Eyengho takes us on a journey through his career path, family life and his passion for portraying the African culture through filmmaking. A proud alumnus and a member of the MSc FT4 class, he also tells us how the SMC has impacted his career and family life.

Alex Eyengho

My name is Alex Oritsegbeyiwa Eyengho. I was born in Lagos on May 8, 1969 into the family of Mr. Friday & Mrs. Sumele Eyengho. They had 9 of us (5 boys and 4 girls) and I am number 5. My late father, Mr. Friday Omowu Sholuwa Eyengho hailed from Delta State as indigenes of communities like Ijaghala, Ode-Ugborodo, Omadino, Orugbo, Abiugborodo, Kantu etc, all cutting across the three Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State, and Ilaje in Ondo State. My mother, Mrs. Suleme Grace Eyengho (nee Okotie-Ogunje Olomu) hails from Koko, Ebrohimi, Bobi; Egbokodo and Agbarho etc, all in the three Warri Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Ethiope East LGA of Delta State, and Ondo State. I attended St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Lagos and Atunrase Boys High School, Lagos, where I obtained my West African School Certificate in 1987. I proceeded to the Anambra State Polytechnic, where I obtained my OND in Mass Communication in 1992 and went further to obtain my HND in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic Oko. I then went for my MBA at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom where I graduated in 2012 and proceeded to the School of Media and Communication of the then Pan-African University (now Pan-Atlantic University) where I obtained my MSc. in Media and Communication in 2013/2014. I hold several other certificates in journalism and filmmaking from Nigeria, Europe and America. I am currently a media practitioner, filmmaker and a professional in partisan politics. I am well travelled both nationally and internationally where I have been to virtually all continents of the world mostly for industry-related events. I am married to Matel Oritseweyinmi Alex-Eyengho (nee Ejejigbe) with children.

2. Tell us about your career path and how you became a Filmmaker.

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Like I said earlier, I am today a media practitioner, filmmaker and a professional in politics. I have always known from the outset that I am a creative artiste. However, when I was a child, I loved the uniform profession like the army and police so much. This explains why in 1987 the year I rounded off my Secondary school, I applied to get into the army through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) but was never shortlisted. Not giving up, in 1988, I applied to the Police Academy, Pashinkara in Kano State to become a Police Cadet Inspector. From the thousands of applications from the then Bendel State, I was first shortlisted among the first 20 applicants who went for the one-week training at the Academy and latter to the last 5 applicants. The Provost of the Academy then was Assistant Commissioner Akagbosu who is also from Bendel State. He called the 5 of us (4 boys and 1 girl) Bendelites into his office and addressed us. He was very cordial and indeed spoke to us like our father. He told us we all did well but because of quota system and the fact that Bendelites are believed to be very many in the Nigeria Police Force, only 2 of us will be selected from Bendel State, while most of the other States, particularly the Northern States will have minimum of 10 per State. When the final result was published in the Daily Times, truly, only 2 out of the 5 finalists from Bendel State were selected; the only girl and another boy. I cried because I was so close. It was so painful. If I made it to the NDA in 1987 or the Police Academy in 1988, my rank today would have been nothing less than Brig. General and AIG respectively. I tried the NDA again in 1989 but was not also shortlisted. That was when I gave up my desire to be a member of the Nigerian armed forces. At this time (1989), most of my secondary school class mates who gained admission into the Universities were already in their 200 levels going to 300 levels the next year being 1990. The sale of JAMB forms had closed during this period and I was not about to waste 1990 being completely out of school. At this time, one of my childhood friends (Ben Dunno) was already studying Mass Communication at the Anambra State Polytechnic. He encouraged me to enrol since I had the required WASC subjects. I did immediately but as that was being proccessed, the Federal Government introduced JAMB system into Polytechnics. That was how I became one of the pioneers of Poly JAMB. I passed and got admitted to study for my OND in Mass Communication. After my HND in 1995 and NYSC in Minna, Niger State in 1996, I came back to Lagos and joined Nollywood same year as an actor from where I also started learning the ropes as a producer and director through the opportunity given to me by Joe Dudun, a veteran Nollywood filmmaker. As they say, the rest is history.

3. What are some projects you have worked on in the Nigerian film industry and any upcoming ones?

Alex Eyengho

I have worked on so many projects (movies, soap operas and stage plays) for others as an actor, production assistant, production manager, casting director and assistant director. However, my own projects thus far as producer/director include but not limited to Beyond Obligation (1&2), Nanna of the Niger Delta, Judgement Day, The Return, Scruples, Oma tsen-tsen, Suara la, Ogodobiri, A Trip to Ugbege, Bishop Iloputaife, Itsekiri in Capsule, Nanna Olomu, Olu Akengbuwa, Oleri, The 20th Warri Monarch among others. My current jobs still at pre production stages are The Riota and The Naming Ceremony.

4. Tell us about your family life?

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As stated before, I am married with four children (all boys) including a set of twins. In order of seniority, my four children are Abemiyor, Oyorworli, Oyortemi and Itseworli. I met my wife, then known as Miss Matel Ejejigbe in 1998 at the audition for the film, Nanna of the Niger Delta, which took place at Ebute Meta, Lagos. Aboyowa Ikomi was the executive producer. Joe Dudun was the director while I was a supporting lead actor and one of the two assistant directors. She (Matel) came for the audition to get one of the acting roles. Incidentally, Joe Dudun as NYSC teacher thought her in Secondary school. The moment I saw her, I told Joe Dudun that “I must marry this girl.” Joe Dudun made the introductions and I took things from there. She got a role in the film and we were all in the location together with other members of cast and crew for weeks, somewhere in Ajido, Badagry. She did many yanga for me all through our stay in the location. She was already a movie star before then because she had played lead and supporting lead roles alongside the likes of Eucharia Anunobi, Gloria Alozie Young, Emeka Ike among others, in some major Nollywood films then. So, her shakara was much when I told her that I already see her as my wife. I would buy her bottle water (that’s the only water she drinks till date) and buy pure water for myself because I don’t have money (laughs). I did not give up and on July 1st and 2nd 2002, we married the traditional and christian ways respectively in Warri, Delta State. She is also a trained marketer by profession. We do all our businesses together. She has been a great pillar of support to me all this years. We also publish the monthly WARRI MIRROR magazine, a pioneer and ubiquitous grassroots print medium in the Niger Delta region. I try to always be the best husband to my wife and children because they are all I have.

5. How do you keep up with your work and family life?

Alex Eyengho

In life, one must always strive to strike a balance in one’s activities. I travel a lot because of the nature of my job. But whenever I am around, I make sure I give them the maximum time and attention.

Alex Eyengho SMC

6. How has your schooling in SMC impacted your career and family life?
Very positively. One of the very best decisions I have ever taken in my life was to proceed to SMC for my MSc. in Media and Communication. My experience in that University was awesome. It made me a better person both in my career and family life. This was why I went back to SMC for my PhD in Media and Communication which I had to suspend one year into the minimum three-year program. This was due to time factor and my endless travels in and out of the country within the period. You know that SMC don’t joke with class attendance. I couldn’t meet up with the compulsory class attendance in the first year which has two semesters. So, I had to opt out during the second semester. I hope I will find time to go back and continue but this time, I may just switch to PhD in Film studies.

7. Is the African culture being protrayed as it should by African filmmakers? If not, what needs to be done?

Alex Eyengho_film

I don’t think we as African filmmakers are doing enough in this regard. Culture comes with a lot of things (food, dressing, language, religious beliefs, etc). I see us portraying more of foreign cultures in our films as if we are not proud of the rich African culture. The way forward is for us to go back to making films in the various indigenous languages of Africa and subtitle such films. You cannot separate language from culture. The western languages, particularly English and French have somehow recolonized us in Africa and and by implication, our culture. This is reflecting in our films. We must reverse this trend. The more local, the more global. We must think of globalization only from the keyhole of glocalization.

8. What three books would we find on your bookshelf at home?

I am a Pan-Africanist. I am also a student of African history. Anyday, anytime, you will find in my bookshelf at home the following three books: Merchant Prince of the Niger; by Prof. Obaro Ikimi, The History of Itsekiri, by William Moore and the last but not the least, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe.

Positivism and Knowledge Inquiry: From Scientific Method to Media and Communication Research

 

Dr. Kizito Alakwe

This paper seeks to analyze and justify the placement of the academic field of media and communication into the broad field of the social sciences as against the humanities or cultural studies. The Social Sciences strive to understand and interpret phenomena through an empirical, rational and objective methodology which facilitates the presentation of “facts”, facts that play a contributory role towards knowledge. First propounded by the 19th Century, French sociologist and philosopher, Auguste Comte, Positivism recognizes scientific knowledge as authentic because it emanates from the positive affirmation of existing theories through the scientific method. The traditional approach in positivism (as propounded by Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim) thus identifies a close relationship between the social sciences and the natural sciences. Consequently, this paper attempts to highlight the close relationship between philosophy, the scientific method (a popular approach in research in the natural and social sciences) and research methodologies in media and communication studies and thus endorses its place in the social sciences as against humanities. Leveraging on extant literature, this paper defends the placement of media and communication studies in the social sciences, even though it retains a strong relationship with the humanities. It further highlights the centrality of positivism as a school of philosophy in knowledge inquiry in the social sciences with particular reference to media and communications research.

 

References
Alakwe, K. O. (2017). Positivism and knowledge inquiry: From scientific method to media and communication research. Specialty Journal of Humanities and Cultural Science, 2(3), 38-46.

 

Click here to read the full text of the paper

 

Author Profile
Alakwe is a scholar and media/communication expert with an interest in academic research in development communication, behavioural change communication and the cultural and creative industry, with work experience spanning marketing communication, logistics, hospitality, and professional services. Currently working as an adjunct faculty at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, and responsible for strategy formulation and leading the team at Gotcha Communications Limited to drive growth. Alakwe holds a bachelor’s degree in Botany from the University of Port Harcourt, an MBA from the University of Nigeria, and a master’s in Media and Communication from Pan-Atlantic University. He is the first ever doctorate degree graduate from the prestigious School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University and an alumnus of the Institute of Promotional Marketing, London. As an adjunct faculty, Alakwe teaches Media, Human Person and Society, Professional Ethics, and Advanced Communication Research Methods. Alakwe has published in both local and international peer-reviewed journals.

What do you want to be remembered for?

What do you want to be remembered for?
by Dr. Añulika Agina

While trying to read in a Bolt taxi I took from Ilupeju to Lekki Phase One on the 8th of March, I was ‘interrupted’ by a loquacious driver, who went on about how several men had failed to pay their fares at the end of each ride. The men would tell him, “I’ve transferred o”, “The money has gone” (while flashing their phones across his face) or “The money is not going…network problems; I’ll transfer it later”, but later never came. And so, the driver lost thousands of naira to these men. I sympathised with him, and tried again to read, but he continued talking. This time, he focused on one woman. Since he started working two years ago, only one woman has cheated him out of his eight thousand naira. He took her to the airport amidst Lagos traffic and they arrived barely 40 minutes to her departure time. She pleaded with him to hurry into the airport in order not to miss her flight. “I believed her, but she never paid me. I called and texted her several times until she said she would pay me with her body when next she was in Lagos!”

To be remembered on an International Women’s Day in such a pitiable manner is no testimony to women, but we could say that this is an isolated case. Indeed, it is! Before dismissing it too quickly, pause and think of what goes through the taxi driver’s mind whenever a female steps into his car. Why did he care to narrate his unpleasant episode to me? Undoubtedly, there are countless and unnamed inspirational women all over the world who will be remembered for the positive change that they have initiated and continue to promote. One of them is Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who now heads the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A colleague recently told me, to my amusement, that @NOIweala (to use her Twitter handle) is the real slay queen, not those who wear 100% human hair the length of a walking stick, or those who can afford the most expensive clothes or those who weaponise their bodies in different ways (no body shaming intended). Okonjo-Iweala will be remembered for the remarkable achievements she made as Finance Minister in Nigeria, and for what she is now doing in the international space at the WTO. Another woman who will be remembered for the social change she has been campaigning for is Malawi’s Memory Banda, who is fighting against child marriage in her small community and succeeding. Banda is from a humbler background and did not go to Harvard – pointers to the fact that all women can contribute positively to the common good regardless of their origin or history. Obviously, not all women will necessarily be national or international icons, but the small positive change they make wherever they are is important, should be encouraged and will be remembered by someone including a Bolt taxi driver.

In a world that seems to be dominated by the me-myself-and-I syndrome and a desire to take advantage of others to one’s personal gain, there is a lot of good that women can do in the society to reverse a self-centred approach to life. They have and can develop all it takes to be successful at home and in the public sphere, to be selfless and supportive of others, and to be proactive in the choice of their career and in attaining financial or any other kind of independence. But above all, women have all it takes to be remembered for what is noble and edifying.While trying to read in a Bolt taxi I took from Ilupeju to Lekki Phase One on the 8th of March, I was ‘interrupted’ by a loquacious driver, who went on about how several men had failed to pay their fares at the end of each ride. The men would tell him, “I’ve transferred o”, “The money has gone” (while flashing their phones across his face) or “The money is not going…network problems; I’ll transfer it later”, but later never came. And so, the driver lost thousands of naira to these men. I sympathised with him, and tried again to read, but he continued talking. This time, he focused on one woman. Since he started working two years ago, only one woman has cheated him out of his eight thousand naira. He took her to the airport amidst Lagos traffic and they arrived barely 40 minutes to her departure time. She pleaded with him to hurry into the airport in order not to miss her flight. “I believed her, but she never paid me. I called and texted her several times until she said she would pay me with her body when next she was in Lagos!”

To be remembered on an International Women’s Day in such a pitiable manner is no testimony to women, but we could say that this is an isolated case. Indeed, it is! Before dismissing it too quickly, pause and think of what goes through the taxi driver’s mind whenever a female steps into his car. Why did he care to narrate his unpleasant episode to me? Undoubtedly, there are countless and unnamed inspirational women all over the world who will be remembered for the positive change that they have initiated and continue to promote. One of them is Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who now heads the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A colleague recently told me, to my amusement, that @NOIweala (to use her Twitter handle) is the real slay queen, not those who wear 100% human hair the length of a walking stick, or those who can afford the most expensive clothes or those who weaponise their bodies in different ways (no body shaming intended). Okonjo-Iweala will be remembered for the remarkable achievements she made as Finance Minister in Nigeria, and for what she is now doing in the international space at the WTO. Another woman who will be remembered for the social change she has been campaigning for is Malawi’s Memory Banda, who is fighting against child marriage in her small community and succeeding. Banda is from a humbler background and did not go to Harvard – pointers to the fact that all women can contribute positively to the common good regardless of their origin or history. Obviously, not all women will necessarily be national or international icons, but the small positive change they make wherever they are is important, should be encouraged and will be remembered by someone including a Bolt taxi driver.

In a world that seems to be dominated by the me-myself-and-I syndrome and a desire to take advantage of others to one’s personal gain, there is a lot of good that women can do in the society to reverse a self-centred approach to life. They have and can develop all it takes to be successful at home and in the public sphere, to be selfless and supportive of others, and to be proactive in the choice of their career and in attaining financial or any other kind of independence. But above all, women have all it takes to be remembered for what is noble and edifying.

Media and Religion: The Mobile Phone as a Key Actor

Media and Religion: The Mobile Phone as a Key Actor
By Allwell O. Nwankwo, PhD
(allwell.nwankwo@pau.edu.ng)

Dr. Allwell

The media and religion have always enjoyed some affinity. Various religions use the media to propagate their faith. On the other hand, the media promote religion. At the level of the individual, however, it seems the mobile phone has become an integral part not only of everyday life but also of “doing religion.” The article, Connectivity and communion: The mobile phone and the Christian religious experience in Nigeria, published recently in New Media & Society, explores the fusion of the mobile phone into the Christian religious experience, using mediatization theory as an analytical lens.

Specifically, the article (based on an online survey) addresses the following questions: What role does the mobile phone play in contemporary religious experience? What types of religious content are consumed on the phone? What are people’s attitudes towards the use of mobile phones during worship? How is the mobile phone perceived as a tool for religious practice?
No doubt, Nigerians are among the most religious people on earth. A study by WIN-Gallup International indicates they are second only to Thais. So, religion is a very important institution and, most times, a critical identity marker in the country. The article, therefore, touches on two salient strands that, with other elements, form the warp and woof of the society.

The findings of the study suggest that many people go to church with their phones. While there, they read the digital Bible or sing from the digital hymnal on the phone. The more adventurous ones make calls, send messages, and share content on social media during worship. But not everyone considers this acceptable. Critics believe the mobile phone should not come to church at all. Advocates think it should be welcome in church and used to reach out. Dualists say it is neither here nor there as actual usage determines what the phone can do.
Outside the worship environment, the mobile phone continues to serve as an always-available “techno-spiritual” gadget. And in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems safe to predict that the mobile phone and other digital technologies will be called upon to play an even more prominent role in religion and other spheres of life.

The article is published here

The accepted version can be downloaded here

 

Author Profile
Allwell Nwankwo holds a PhD in Media and Communication from the Pan-Atlantic University. He had earlier on obtained a BSc in Mass Communication and an MSc in Marketing from the University of Lagos. His research interests include mobile phone technocultures, digital religion, mediatization of everyday life, and phenomenology in communication research. A marketing professional for over 20 years, Allwell currently works at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. His previous roles include: Managing Director, University of Lagos Press & Bookshop Ltd; Head of Marketing, Longman Nigeria Plc; AGM Marketing, Coscharis Technologies Ltd; Product Manager, SC Johnson; Product Group Manager, PERA-BEAM (UACN Plc); and Senior Correspondent, Corporate. Allwell has published in top journals such as New Media & Society, Africa Journal of Management, Observatorio, Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations, and International Journal of Cultural and Creative Industries. His books include How to Serve & Keep Your Customers, 20 Universal Laws of Service Excellence, How to Succeed at Job Interviews, and Customer Service at a Glance (on Amazon). Allwell is married and blessed with three children. Besides work and academics, he is a songwriter and choral music director.

SMC Alumni Couples: Olubukola and Opeyemi Oluleye

 

Ope-and-Bukky

OPEYEMI OLULEYE

My name is Opeyemi Oluleye. I prefer to be identified as a Nigerian with multi-cultural affiliations. I am a Branding and Corporate Communication Consultant, leading Strategy at Geitwei Inc.

QUESTIONS:

  1. How did you meet? What attracted you to each other?

Bukola and I have known each other for a while, say since 2010, because we attended the same church. However, we were just friends that later got to volunteer in the same Unit – Media Department. One thing I had always admired about her though is that she was different – unique way of thinking, living a quiet lifestyle, intelligent, beautiful, and a rare writer.

In 2014, we found ourselves in the same room, writing an application test to join the School of Media and Communication. It was a coincidence but we shared similar interest areas so we were happy to be pursuing the same degree. Fast forward to getting admitted and resuming (SMC was still at Victoria Island). She lived in Agungi and I lived in Ajah, so I would usually pick her up in the morning and drop her off in the evening – started off with her meeting me at her bus stop and dropping her off at her bus stop. Those moments, on days when there were no extra passengers, we would gist, laugh, tease each other, lament about school work, etc. These were the conversations that then strengthened the bond and even made me see her more beautiful than I was seeing in the past.

  1. Were you in other serious relationships prior to your marriage?

My last relationship was in final year of my first degree (2010/2011); I was single until Bukola and I got together.

  1. How long did you date? What was a typical date like?

The relationship officially began November 2014 – interestingly, at school we were thought to be siblings or cousins or distant relatives, and most still did not figure it out until after we got married – and we were in it for 3 years.

During our time at Pan-Atlantic University, I will say our typical dates were the moments we spent together – lunch in school, trip to school and back, a visit to her place and vice versa. Moments like this, I will mention that we shared dates with friends like David Ajikobi and Morolake Dairo (classmates) without them knowing.

  1. When did you decide to get married?
    Ope-and-Bukky2

     

For me, I would rather set my goal and work backward. The day I asked her out (I will leave that story for her to narrate) was the day I made the decision to marry her – it’s all in the head. However, it took me 2 years to actualize this journey. The conversation had longed moved from deciding to marry to my ability to pull a surprise on the day of the proposal.

December 2016, we traveled to Dubai for a friend’s wedding – the UAE government decided that I was going to Dubai to propose and not attend a wedding that I was the best man at because my visa came out a day after the wedding. On the day she was to return to Nigeria, my friend, Toyosi became a make-shift event planner. We waited for Bukola’s Uber to arrive and her luggage loaded into the boot. I then called her into the lobby of the hotel – this was around 2am or so – and a few inches away from a humongous Christmas tree, I went on my knees and pulled out the ring. What would Bukola do? She ran away, as in took off. Who does that? Her friends ran after her and brought her back. I then said, “Will you marry me?”, then whispered, “You better say yes”.

  1. What do you do together for fun?

It took us a while to figure out how to have fun together, and this is because we are two very different people. But things are different now. We joke and laugh together. We discuss people, ideas, thought processes, and other matters that arise.

  1. Describe each of your roles in the relationship. How did you come to have these roles?

Our roles are quite unique, as a couple, from the generally accepted standard. We have grown to support each other at all levels so that we do not have one person carrying the burden 100%. We learnt to do this by desiring to do things together, and this involves spiritual, financial, domestic, and social roles.

  1. What are your biggest arguments about in your relationship?

Negligence. I have a bad habit for either forgetting to do something or storing information given me by her in a long-term memory. When it is time to pull out these information and I drop the ball, an argument becomes inevitable.

  1. Do you have children? If you do, how has having children
    Ope-and-Bukky3

    changed your marriage?

Yes we do. Oreoluwa is 2 years old now and has been a great catalyst to change in the family. The little man is living his best life yet and really doesn’t have worries because Daddy and Mummy should know what to do, and this is the definition of change in the marriage.

For every movement, every naira, every decision, Oreoluwa has to be considered. This, friends, is inevitable change that cannot be reversed.

  1. Describe your job. How does your work responsibilities impact your family life?

I am a Media and Communications consultant. Until now, I worked with an Education Development organization as a Communication and Knowledge Management Lead. My office was in Ilupeju and so I would spend the entire day out of the house and return home tired. This clearly took a toll on my family because I was not available.

The pandemic eased things a bit because we got to work from home fully. It was also during this period that I began to find time to do spend with the family.

Right now I am transiting to full-time consultancy, working with my wife. Our work is focused on using storytelling to grow brands. We had started a company about 3 years ago but she was the only one running it. Since we function in the same field, it is easier to execute projects and still have time to grow the home.

  1. What is the biggest strength of your relationship?

I think it is the willingness to align despite our multiple differences. This means that we have grown to make efforts in ensuring that we both are not just existing as partners but growing as a family unit.

  1. What does love mean to you?

Love has taken a new meaning for me. You will probably never hear me give you Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of love again. Now, love means value exchange. I ensure that I am of value to someone, not expecting anything in return.

 

 

OLUBUKOLA OLULEYE

My name is Olubukola Oluleye. I am a Writer, Editor, Content Curator and Management consultant.

 

QUESTIONS:

  1. How did you meet? What attracted you to each other?

We met in church, in a group of other friends. I don’t remember our earliest interactions, but I remember thinking he was stubborn. We knew of each other before we started speaking to each other. What drew me to him was the way he carried himself – like a person of substance. PAU brought us closer together, of course. We spend a lot of time together because we went to school together, we were in the same course stream, and we went home from school together.

  1. Were you in other serious relationships prior to your marriage?

Before Ope, I had only been in one other relationship. I didn’t really have the courage to date multiple times.

  1. How long did you date? What was a typical date like?We dated for about three (3) years. We didn’t go out much because some of the time, we were in school (PAU), and the rest of the time, we worked on opposite ends of Lagos.
  1. When did you decide to get married?
    Ope-and-Bukky1

     

We got engaged in December 2016. Funny story – I ran away when he proposed.

  1. What do you do together for fun?

For fun, we try different meals or make fun of each other’s palate, we watch movies, listen to old music together, or have general discussions about human nature.

  1. Describe each of your roles in the relationship. How did you come to have these roles?

I’m not sure we have strictly defined roles; I think we just find ways to complement each other where there is a need. If one person can’t do something right now, the other person does. If one person can’t be one thing right now, the other person is. We’re figuring out our rhythm as we grow.

  1. What are your biggest arguments about in your relationship?

Many of our arguments center around our different temperaments/personalities. Sometimes, I like things done a certain way and he likes them done the opposite way.

  1. Do you have children? If you do, how has having children changed your marriage?

We have a son. His addition to us has made us both grow, I believe. We understand each other better, and every day we get a better sense of the responsibility on our hands. We frame his first views (which will likely last longer than many others) of life and human relationships, so it’s on us to model kindness and humanity the best way we know.

  1. Describe your job. How does your work responsibilities impact your family life?

I work as a writer/editor half the time. The rest of the time, I’m on a product development and partnerships management team. My work schedule is pretty hectic, and that means that I’ve had to be more deliberate about creating work-life boundaries, setting aside time to rest, and time to be a family. I don’t always do it right, but I try. Ope and I also work together on a lot of things, so we’re in constant communication.

  •  
    Ope-and-Bukky5

    What is the biggest strength of your relationship?

I think our biggest strengths are our determination to work hard on our relationship, and our willingness to find joy in little things. We both love to laugh.

  • What does love mean to you?

That’s a big question. I don’t think I have one definition that encapsulates everything I think about love. But I will say that love is attentiveness. It is deliberate kindness and service. Feelings of deep care and adoration are the cherry on the top.