By Njide Ezeonyejiaku
The Anambra State Chapter of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, ACSPN has held its Eminent Persons Series, 2024 to Celebrate resilience, doggedness, and industriousness among eminent Nigerians.
The event, held at the Faculty of Social Sciences Hall, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus attracted distinguished personalities from all walks of life.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Anselm Onuorah described the theme of the event as critical to the situation we are in Nigeria today, calling on the media to take the centre stage in educating Nigerians with the positive and credible information.
Dr. Onuorah who is the immediate past Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, and MD, Anchor Book Publisher pointed out that what people know comes from the media, hence the need to distinguish quacks who thrive on sensationalism and insensitive contents from professional media practitioners who understand how powerful the media can help to hold our leaders accountable to bring the change we need.
Welcoming the participants to the University, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha in a remark stated that clear vision of what one wants to do and passion for what one loves are the driving force needed to succeed in any enterprise.
The Lead Paper Presenter, Mr. Arnold Ekwueme, whose inspiring Presentation was based on how he became who he is today from the scratch explained that honesty can take one where hardwork will not, noting that it just takes a man to change your story.
Mr. Ekwueme listed three guiding principles that can take one to the top as: start your prayers by asking for forgiveness of sins; ask God to open your head to drive ideas; and be consistent, noting that the media, especially the internet enabled media are the best things that happened to the world.
Also, speaking, a Guest Speaker, Associate Prof. Onyeka Confidence Chukwuemezie of the Department of Special Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka charged media practitioners to be intentional in their job of informing the citizens, urging them to give the true picture of issues to help people not to despair and slide into hopelessness.
Earlier, the State Chairman of ACSPN, Mrs Ify Obi described ACSPN as an umbrella body that unites media scholars and practitioners, adding that the eminent persons series is designed to celebrate distinguished industrial moguls.
She stressed on the choice of the event’s theme: “Communicating Resilience, the Role of the Media in Advancing Nigeria’s Quest for Recovery and Economic Hardship”.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. Gideon Nwafor appreciated the organisers for bringing the event to COOU, Igbariam Campus, while urging the participants to put to good use the messages from the resource persons.
Interactive session with the speakers formed the highpoint of the event.
