MTN Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP), a six-month fully funded fellowship, in partnership with the School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), in Lagos, commenced on May 23, 2022.
Media practitioners drawn from media houses across Nigeria, made it to the first stream of the three-year programme.
MTN MIP was formally launched on April 27, 2022 and will cost the technology company over 300 million naira.
“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 of MTN Nigeria, noted during the launch event.
On her part, Professor Enase Okonedo, Vice Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, said: “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.”
MTN MIP -1 Class:
In his remarks, Dr. Mike Okolo, Dean, School of Media and Communications, PAU, congratulated the participants, numbering 20, who were selected from more than 1200 applicants.
“It took us about a month to conceive the course outline due to content generation and support (sponsorship). Now, the programme is loaded with great contents and the facilitators are seasoned and reputable personalities.
“More than a thousand people applied for this programme, but you were selected after rigorous appraisal of the applications. The essence of MTN MIP is to put the lessons to work post-learning.
“What we desire is to make changes in the society which the participants should become SMC’s ambassadors. It costs a lot of money to develop the content and the MTN Nigeria’s decision to foot the bills was borne out of the shared value to see the media impact the industry better.
“Never let the work stop you from achieving knowledge. Burn the candle”, the Dean challenged the participants.
Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo, the Chief Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria, further highlighted that MTN MIP as a platform for the practitioners to unlearn, learn and relearn.
“As media practitioners, you must think for yourself, so we ‘the industry’ do not tell you things which are not as though they were. You must query some industry statistics; analyze certain claims to help the society make informed decision by knowing the truth. Interrogate the numbers; that is what sets you apart”, Okigbo charged the participants.
He further said that MTN as a group believes in shared values with the stakeholders, which for instance, informed the management’s decision to commit $25 million to in support of COVID-19 vaccination programme.
He added that as a Nigerian company, MTN believes in honest, objective and fair reportage; and will continue to obey the rules while challenging some issues in court, to ensure that no party is surcharged.
Isaac-Ogugua Ezechukwu, Director Professional Education, School of Media and Communications at Pan-Atlantic University (owned by the Pan-Atlantic University Foundation (PAUF), a non-profit foundation registered in Nigeria), reiterated the MTN MIP programme revolves around three key areas: Telecom industry; Media innovation, and Writing & Reporting.
He is the Programme Administrator while the programme coordinators are Idu Oruamabo and Opeyemi Gazalil.
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