Jimoh Elizabeth Oluwaseyi writes on the testimonials by interns from department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos at Media Career Development Network (MCDN) during a send-off for them.
How many days make 300 hours? 12 days plus.
For 300 level Mass Communication students of the University of Lagos who had to undergo 300 hours internship before commencing their final year, they ended up spending weeks made up of unforgettable learning and practice moments at the Media Career Development Network (MCDN) from late August till October 2024.
On August 19, 2024, the trio stepped into MCDN, unsure of how their experience at the media training and mentoring organisation would be since it’s not a regular publishing, broadcasting, public relations or advertising platform. Their eagerness to gain impactful experiences was however quickly met with the reality that MCDN had much more to offer than they had initially imagined.
At the send-off session for them on completing their internship, Christiana Gabriel, Heritage Kehinde, and Iretomiwa Balogun spoke glowingly of how the hours of the days and weeks at MCDN reshaped their understanding of journalism, communication, and personal growth.
More than ever before, they are determined to apply the lessons and experience to excel in their academic and career journey.
A DIVINE PATHWAY
While reflecting on her experience, Gabriel expressed immense gratitude for the enlightening and impactful nature of the internship.
“I’m so happy how God ordered my steps,” she said, with excitement. “My journey into MCDN was divine, and it has provided me with exposure and networking opportunities that have helped me come out of my shell as an introvert.”
Under the mentorship of MCDN Executive Director, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Gabriel noticed a commendable trait in her trainer regarding his passion for teaching.
“Coaching interns is more than just a job for Mr Otufodunrin; it’s his life’s ambition,” she explained, highlighting how this mentorship programme became a cornerstone for her development, particularly in honing her writing skills.
“My challenge was learning how to write reports, but Mr. Otufodunrin provided me with templates, and helped to fine-tune my stories before publishing them. I was able to learn through the process and it has helped me overcome writer’s block. I now have close to seven bylines as evidence of my progress,” she stated proudly.
She also revealed how her period of internship with MCDN has been instrumental in helping her build her Curriculum Vitae and even made her to be intentional in building meaningful collaboration.
“As UNILAG students, we’ve come to know each other better, even more than we did in school,” she said.
THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
Heritage Kehinde, often described as the “life of the party”- due to her vivacious nature, brought a different energy to her reflections.
“Praise the Lord! I had an awesome experience at MCDN,” she exclaimed, recounting a variety of engaging activities- from moderating conversation on X Space, to attending enlightening training sessions and exposure to various networking opportunities like Initiative for Social-Economic Development Communication (INSDEC) and also interacting with great minds like Jadesola Abolaji from Covenant University and Olamide from Olabisi Onabanjo University during the period.
She further revealed the amazing feedback from media professionals about MCDN Executive Director at various events they attended.
“Every time we introduced ourselves as MCDN interns, the response has been- wow! So, you’re interning with Mr Otufodunrin, he has been my mentor and also trained me,…you are in safe hands, blah blah blah!” She recalled.
However, she explained how her initial days at MCDN were somehow challenging.
“I was open to learning, but the first few days were a bit dull. We were just reporting for the X space meeting, which felt monotonous until I started receiving the hands-on training I craved for,” Heritage said, recalling how she was later able to grasp the essence of journalism.
“I’ve learnt basic journalistic skills. I now know that the core of Journalism is learning to write and speak as I discovered that communication is the ability to engage your audience meaningfully. I saw my mistakes when I was privileged to moderate the X space meeting for The World News Day and also gained from the numerous conversations in this office.” Heritage explained excitedly.
NAVIGATING EXPECTATIONS
Balogun, a passionate gender advocate, shared her own journey of navigating expectations versus reality.
“I had envisioned Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme-(SIWES) as a great experience and previously reached out to several organizations, but I struggled to secure a placement until my Aunt suggested MCDN,” she explained, recalling how her experience did not align with her expectations, but over time, she found her footing.
Balogun highlighted the networking opportunities that MCDN provided, particularly during the leadership series training organised by Channels Television, book launch event she attended and book reading session she had with a renowned journalist, anti-human trafficking advocate author, Ms Bukola Oriola based in the United States.
Yet, she also candidly expressed feelings of neglect at times, especially when observing her peers actively brainstorming on projects. “Honestly, seeing my fellow colleagues engaging in discussions about the INSDEC project, social media campaign and other media related discussions made me feel left out,” she confessed.
Despite facing financial constraints and challenges in transportation, Balogun was grateful for the support MCDN offered her, while describing how she plans to explore the media space more, after the interview session/book reading experience on Google-Meet with the author of a book she read at MCDN about human trafficking.
GRATITUDE AND GROWTH
MCDN Communications Officer, Blessing Osemobor praised the UNILAG students for their doggedness and determination.
“Your diligence and eagerness to learn are commendable. As you return to school, strive to do better,” she urged them, reinforcing the importance of continuous growth.
The Executive Director who was represented by The Programme Manager, Mr. Dayo Emmanuel further encouraged the interns to maintain the connections they had built during their time at MCDN.
“Feel free to reach out for guidance on project topics or assignments. The power of networking is invaluable,” he advised, reminding them that their journey with MCDN does not have to end with the internship.
“Your Internship might be over but feel free to fall back to MCDN. Others still have a lot to learn from us and we have a lot to learn from you too,” he explained
A CELEBRATORY SEND-OFF
The conclusion of their internship was marked by a small send-off gathering, filled with reflection as Interns from other institutions, including Nigeria Institute of Journalism and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUTECH), were inspired by the legacy left behind by the UNILAG students.
As the trio prepared to return to their academic pursuits, they carried with them, not just skills and knowledge but a new-found confidence to navigate the complexities of the media landscape.
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