By Emmanuel Onwusoro
The roles of the media in agenda setting, societal watch-dog and other functions were again highlighted at a media get-together hosted by the management of the AfricanVoice International Training And Development Academy, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Founder/Publisher of the school, Rt. Hon.Gboyega Aribisogan said the new media outfit will be a platform to set new direction in information gathering and dissemination in the society and Ekiti State in particular. The outfit, he stressed, is a unique Pan-African educational institution that provides both academic knowledge and intensive, hands-on training for its students and trainees in journalism.
According to Rt. Hon. Aribisogan, the curriculum of the AITDA covers journalism, online journalism, freelance and features writing, climate change, agriculture, conflict resolution, novel and short story writing, travelog, sports, governance, leadership, local government administration, security and peace studies, vocational training among others.
Aribisogan, a veteran journalist, and former speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, further explained that the institution will function as a multi-disciplinary organization that provides other services in media consultancy, printing and publishing, branding advisory and marketing campaigns, rental and hospitality services and others.
He remarked that the complex was inaugurated in July 2023, and admission commenced in October of the same year. Adding that to equip students and trainees with practical knowledge in newspaper and magazine production, the school has resumed the production of the hardcopy and online editions of the news magazine—AfricanVoice International,which can be viewed at www.africanvoiceintlnews.com
The former lawmaker unveiled the plan of the academy to launch the African Voice Public Lecture Series and Awards (APLSA) in the middle of 2024. Objective of which he underscored as to serve as a platform for educating the public on topical issues and a veritable channel of communication for scholars, experts, and allied stakeholders for cross-fertilization of views and proffering solutions to local, national and global development challenges.
Special Adviser to Ekiti State governor on Public Affairs, Mr Niyi Ojo, urged the people of the state to emulate Rt. Hon. Aribisogan by contributing to the development of Ekiti, and not taking their investments to either Lagos or Abuja. He appealed to the people to patronize the institution for its sustenance.
Chairman, Local Organizing Committee for the event, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, said by the establishment of the institution, Rt. Hon. Aribisogan has raised the bar in education in Ekiti State.
He canvassed the need for everyone to associate with the school because it has a lot to offer.
Other speakers appreciated the founder/publisher for his foresight in coming up with such a dreams and pursuing it to reality.