The Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) has secured a significant working partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
The partnership begins with the sponsorship of 20 members of the Association to the CJID’s week-long Media and Development Conference and AI and Journalism Workshop, from November 25th to 29th, 2024, in Abuja.
The first set of beneficiaries are drawn mainly from institutions and media organisations in the North- Central, including the FCT, North- West and North- East geo-political zones of the country.
The next batch, according to a statement by Dr. Solomon Oyeleye, the general secretary of ACSPN, will feature members from the South- West, South East and South – South geo-political zones of the country and will take place later in 2025.
He expressed gratitude to CJID for the sponsorship.
Apart from the sponsored training, CJID and ACSPN are also looking into research collaborations in critical areas of Big data, elections and good governance in Nigeria, Oyeleye said, expressing delight that the ACSPN is leveraging strongly on the fruits of efforts by the previous leadership of the Association in creating strategic partnerships with critical stakeholders in the media ecosystem in the overall interest of members.
He said:
“Since we came on board in September, we have intensified efforts at building strongly on what our past leaders did and one area we are committed to programmes that cater to the critical needs of our members in the area of communication and media scholarship and professionalism.
“In this regard the current Executive Council, under the dynamic leadership of Professor Rotimi Olatunji as National President is also flagging off a series of Empowerment programmes, starting with the Empowerment Series at Fountain University, Osogbo on November 20,2024. This is at the instance of the South West zone of the ACSPN in collaboration with Dataphyte and the Fountain University, Osogbo.”
Akintunde Babatunde, director of Programmes for CJID described the Abuja conference and training as CJID’s flagship event, bringing together leading professionals from around the globe to explore emerging development issues affecting Africa and the media’s role in addressing these challenges.
This year’s program introduces an exciting new dimension, featuring an AI and Media Summit, CJID’s 10th-anniversary dinner and awards night to celebrate excellence in journalism, and a two-day workshop on artificial intelligence tailored for media and communication lecturers.
