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REPORT OF THE LAUNCH OF THE YOUTH LINK MAGAZINE AND FLAG OFF OF NATIONAL MEDIA LITERACY CAMPAIGN BY THE YOUTH MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NIGERIAN-TURKISH INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
DATE: September 15, 2007.
VENUE: Nigerian-Turkish International College, Wuse, Abuja.
The programme began at about 11:40am with about 250 participants, including students from Nigerian-Turkish International College, Prince Alex Academy, Kubwa Baptist High School, Sky Crest Academy, and other schools in Abuja and its environ in attendance. The coordinator of the Youth Media and Communication Initiative (YMCI), Mr. Chido Onumah, anchored the programme. He introduced the special guests and set the tone for the event.
The special guests at event were the Principal, Nigerian-Turkish International College, Mr. Kamil Kemanci, Honorable Minister of Education who was represented by Mrs. Maureen Njoga; the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Tonnie Iredia, Director General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) who was represented by Mrs. Nneonyeodiri Ukoha, Head of Corporate Affairs, NTA; Mrs. Eugenia Abu, special guest speaker, who was represented by Mrs. Uju Anamege; Mrs. Suzie Gamba, Deputy Director, Dept. of Academic Services, who represented the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); Mr. Afolabi Olusola, Director, International Institute of Journalism; Mr. E. B. Itedjere, Director Liaison & Research, Delta State Liaison Office, Abuja, who represented the Honorable Commissioner for Information, Delta State; Mr. Mohammed Attah, African Regional Coordinator, World Association of Non-governmental Organizations (WANGO); Mr. Osaro Odemwinge, Communications Officer, OXFAM.
Mr. Kamil Kemanci, Principal, Nigerian-Turkish International College, in his welcome remarks praised the efforts of the Youth Media & Communication Initiative (YMCI). He reiterated the importance of exposing youths to media education at an early age. He expressed the willingness of his school to collaborate with YMCI and asked all stakeholders to join hands to make the national media literacy campaign a success.
The Director of Programs, YMCI, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, in his speech gave a background to the national media literacy campaign by drawing on the Convention on the Rights of Child which Nigeria ratified on April 19, 1991. He noted that almost two decades after the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nigerian children still suffered a lot of abuses. He emphasized the need for media education for children and youths to make them play a positive role in society. He noted that YMCI had approached a number of organizations, including the Nigeria Television Authority, AIT, Channels TV, DBN, Tell Magazine, The News magazine, national newspapers, NUJ, International Institute of Journalism, Oxfam, Action Aid International, CLEEN Foundation, UNICEF, UNESCO, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Canadian International Development Agency, etc, to join the national media literacy coalition.
Mr. Uwugiaren informed the participants about the proposal by YMCI to hold a national media literacy conference to help create the conditions that would promote sustainable media education in Nigeria by bringing together experts in the fields of education, children and media, communications and literacy. He called on children and youths to contribute to the coverage of news and events in the media about young people. He also implored journalists to promote and balance the image of young people in the media and the positive roles they play in society.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Tonnie Iredia, Director General of NTA, who was represented by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Nneonyediri Ukoha, said NTA was supporting YMCI because the agency was interested in youth development. He challenged children and youths to create a distinct Nigerian identity for themselves. He noted that they could do this by becoming media literate and shunning aspects of foreign cultures that were negative. He admonished children and youths, while acquiring Western education, not to forget their native language, stories about their people and other things that define their tradition and culture as a people. He asked children and youths to be proud of Nigeria and the African continent and spend more time watching creative programs for children and youths on NTA as opposed to other foreign channels.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Mohammed Attah, WANGO Africa Regional Coordinator, commended YMCI for the initiative. He said WANGO was impressed by the organization and success of the program. He thanked Youth Link! magazine for advertising the November WANGO Congress to be held in Toronto, Canada. He promised WANGO’s support for the media literacy campaign.
Mr. Osaro Odemwinge, Communications Officer, OXFAM, thanked YMCI for inviting OXFAM to be part of the media literacy initiative. He noted that no emphasis was too much on media education for young people. According to him, children are very curious and they start asking questions as soon as they are able to talk. He said it was therefore important to put in place structures that would respond adequately to the many questions and issues that bother children. Mr. Odemwinge promised to link YMCI up with the OXFAM initiative that has training opportunities for young people.
Mrs. Suzie Gamba who represented the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) praised YMCI for the media literacy project and the launch of the Youth Link! magazine. She said UBEC would support any initiative that seeks to enhance the literacy capabilities of young people. She expressed the support of UBEC for the media literacy initiative and the willingness of UBEC to partner with YMCI.
Mr. Afolabi Olusola, Director, International Institute of Journalism in his goodwill message said he was happy one of the teachers in his school, Mr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, YMCI’s Director of Programs was among those behind the media literacy initiative. He noted that there couldn’t be a better time to help young people understand the benefit of media education. He promised the support of his school towards attaining the objectives of the media literacy campaign.
Mrs. Eugenia Abu, special guest speaker, who was represented by Mrs. Uju Anamege, spoke on “The Benefit of Media Literacy in a World of Edutainment”. Mrs. Abu noted that today’s world is getting increasingly complex with the advances in new media technologies. She encouraged youths to ensure that their voices are heard, adding that the only way they could do that would be to become media savvy. She noted that media literacy is crucial and everyone, especially the young must get on board since the future is theirs.
One of the highlights of the event was the performance by SAMSONG, an R&B crooner, which drew standing ovation from participants. His song centered on the creative ability of young people and the need for them to have confidence in their ability to make a difference.
The Youth Link! magazine was officially launched by the African Regional Coordinator of WANGO, Mr. Mohammed Attah, followed by other special guests who donated generously to support the printing of the magazine. Speaker after speaker commended YMCI for the impressive turnout and the media literacy campaign, noting that the timing was right because most children in the country do not have the opportunity to contribute to issues affecting them.
The program came to end about 2:00pm. Participants had lots to eat and drink thanks to the contributions of the following corporate sponsors: Cadbury Nig. Plc, De United Food Industries Ltd (Indomie noodles) and Seven Up Bottling Company Plc.
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