Former interns at the Media Career Development Network (MCDN) have returned to share their success stories and inspire the current set of interns.
Among them were Iretomiwa Balogun, a recent Mass Communication graduate from the University of Lagos and first runner-up at the recent Africa Factchecking Award, 2025 with her entry,
‘Exposing Social Media Claim That Any Liquid Can Make Pregnancy Test Strip Turn Positive’,
and Olamide Ayoade, a recent graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State who won the maiden edition of the National Wire Campus Business Journalism Awards earlier this year.
Both were part of the 2024 internship cohort.
In this report by DAYO EMMANUEL, Programmes Manager and mentor at the MCDN, the duo reflected on their growth during and after their internship while Fountain Iyke-Mordi, an outgoing intern from Lead City University, Ibadan, also shared her experience as she completes her internship program at the MCDN.
“You Can Do a Lot From This Small Room” — Iretomiwa Balogun
Iretomiwa Balogun began modestly
relaying her experience
“There is nothing special about my story. One thing I know is that being here, from this small room, you can actually do a lot,” she told the current interns yesterday.
She recalled how MCDN’s Executive Director, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, once shared a story from his days at The Punch Newspaper in Abeokuta, when reporters dictated stories over the analogue telephone — one of which turned out to be a big report.
“That story made me realize that no matter how small a space seems, great work can come from it,” she said.
Balogun admitted she initially underestimated the internship experience.
“The first day I came, I asked myself, ‘What are we even doing here?’ But as time went by, I learned a lot. Coming to MCDN opened many doors I never imagined possible. I began to see myself doing things I once thought I couldn’t,” she said.
Discovering Fact-Checking
On how she got into fact-checking, Balogun said it happened almost by accident.
“I was in class one day, sitting in front and dozing off when our instructor, Mr. Caleb Ijioma, asked me to stand up. That was the first time I heard about fact-checking. I had never heard the term throughout my four years in the university,” she recalled.
Initially uninterested, she said curiosity and exposure at MCDN awakened her drive.
“At school, many colleagues were already doing things — some were filmmakers or photographers. I asked myself, what am I doing with my life? So when I got here, I decided to take charge. That’s how I started developing interest in gender issues and volunteered at the gender desk,” she said.
Soon after, she joined Round Check, a fact-checking platform, as a volunteer intern. “It has been nothing but exciting,” she said.
First Fact-Check Experience
Balogun recounted her first major assignment.
“I came across a post on Twitter (now X) where a man claimed that if a woman grows from size 8 to size 12, it means she has had an abortion. It was a shocking claim. Mr. Caleb Ijioma asked me to fact-check it,” she said.
Her investigation led her to medical journals and interviews with two gynecologists. “At the end, we found that the claim was false. That was my first real fact-check,” she said.
That experience led her to write further stories, including one on femicide, and later, her award-winning report.
“The third report that won me the award was actually a claim sent to me by our editor, Mr. Adesola Ikulajolu. I almost didn’t want to do it, but I was attending a fact-check training by BONews which required participants to produce two reports for a ₦50,000 stipend. I needed the money, so I decided to try,” she laughed.
Her fact-check on claims that soursop or watermelon seeds can cure cancer and another on pregnancy test myths earned her commendation and eventually the award.
“Mr. Caleb Ijioma guided me to interview medical scientists to strengthen the report. That became the winning story,” she said proudly.
MCDN: A Launchpad for Opportunity
Balogun urged the current interns, drawn from universities including Kwara State University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Lagos, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Caleb University, to take the program seriously.
“From this place, I got motivated for a foreign scholarship. Through MCDN, I met my current boss, Mr. Shina Badaru, founder of Technology Times, where I now work,” she said.
She narrated how attending events on behalf of MCDN led to valuable professional connections.
“One of those events changed everything. I met Mr. Badaru there, and when he heard I was an intern with Mr. Otufodunrin, he gave me his card. That opened a new chapter in my career. Since November, I’ve been working with him,” she said.
Balogun expressed gratitude for choosing MCDN for her internship.
“I’m grateful I didn’t go to TVC, The Nation or AIT for my SIWES. Media Career may look small, but it has opened many doors for me,” she concluded.
“The Doors are Unlocking” — Olamide Ayoade
In his remarks, Olamide Ayoade, another 2024 MCDN intern, expressed deep appreciation.
“I like to say thank you to Media Career because I can’t say thank you enough,” he said.
He admitted that he and his colleagues hadn’t initially planned to join MCDN.
“We just said, since we didn’t have anywhere else for internship, let’s go there. But getting here and meeting Mr. Otufodunrin, Miss Blessing Osemobor, and Mr. Dayo Emmanuel, it became like a family. They exposed us to the rudiments of journalism,” he said.
Ayoade recalled one of their most memorable Monday meetings.
“We had a heated discussion on whether to chase value or money. Mr. Otufodunrin advised us to go for value first, and that has been guiding me since then,” he said.
Turning Internship into Opportunity
Ayoade credited his MCDN experience for opening doors of opportunity.
“It was through MCDN I got to know about the National Wire Campus Business Journalism Awards. I entered for it and won the maiden edition with a story I did on campus,” he said.
He added that attending events and covering assignments led to other collaborations.
“We once covered an event for Insdeck Institute, an initiative promoting socio-economic development. Afterward, they retained us as social media interns. Recently, after graduation, we’ve been retained permanently,” he said.
He also shared how visibility and consistency brought him job offers without formal interviews.
“A company reached out saying they saw my work and wanted to hire me. That’s the power of visibility and value, which Media Career instilled in us,” Ayoade said.
Offering advice to current interns, he said:
“You may not see the results now, but in one or two years, you’ll understand. Use every opportunity well. Be visible, showcase your work, build your portfolio, and keep learning. That’s how to grow,” he advised.
“Find What Works for You” — Fountain Iyke-Mordi
An outgoing intern, Fountain Iyke-Mordi, shared her fresh perspective as she wraps up her internship.
“When I first came to Media Career Development Network, I kept asking myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ Sometimes I would just sit down doing nothing. I kept disturbing Mr. Otufodunrin that I wanted more to do,” she said.
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Fountain Iyke-Mordi receiving books from Mr Otufodunrin
Her persistence paid off when she was seconded to Pr fusions Africa,
a PR firm for more exposure.
“At first, I complained I wasn’t doing enough. Later, I complained the work was too much. But in all, I learned a lot — about public relations, strategic communication, and how to think creatively,” she said with a smile.
She recalled struggling initially with creative thinking.
“Whenever I submitted a draft, my boss, Sister Blessing, would say, ‘Think outside the box.’ That phrase challenged me. Eventually, whenever I got stuck, I would walk outside to observe nature, and ideas would flow,” she said.
Iyke-Mordi also discovered new skills she never imagined learning.
“I didn’t know how to use PowerPoint before, but during this internship, I mastered it. I also learned Adobe and other digital skills. I never believed I could do them — I thought I was just a student who needed to read and go back to school. But this internship changed that mindset,” she said.
Encouraging fellow interns, she concluded:
“Just find what works for you. Put yourself out there. When you do, results will come. This internship has exposed me to opportunities and helped me realize I can do anything I set my mind to. I’m so grateful for the experience,” she said.
MCDN: Nurturing Media Excellence
The Media Career Development Network (MCDN) continues to serve as a nurturing ground for young journalists, equipping them with practical media skills and professional values. Through its mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, the organisation has shaped dozens of aspiring journalists into competent professionals making their marks across media platforms.
The return of its alumni to mentor current interns reflects the strength of MCDN’s training model — one that emphasizes discipline, mentorship, exposure, and value-driven journalism.
*Pictures by: Dayo Emmanuel
