I was recently reminded of one of the numerous blessings I should be grateful to God for as a journalist when I saw my first International Passport issued in 1997 with my first Visa to travel out of the country.
“GRATIS”, meaning FREE, written on the Visa to the United Kingdom to attend the Advance Journalism Course at Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, brought back the memory of the culmination of events when God proved to me that He is able to do exceeding and abundantly, beyond what we can think or imagine.
The first ‘miracle’ was that I applied for the three-month course in Cardiff not really sure I will be selected and to my surprise my application was successful.
Unfortunately, there was no scholarship for me to attend the programme and I needed to source one myself or pay about €3,500 tuition apart from the cost of the return flight which was about N150,000 then.
The Thomson Foundation advised me to reach out to the British Council in Nigeria for a scholarship and I did with a recommendation from the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo
“Why should the British Council pay for your tuition and transport to attend the training?” I remember the Director asking me and I managed to offer some reasons which are not different from what many others asking for the support of the Council would have said and got turned down.
With the commencement date for the training drawing close and no other source of raising the tuition and flight fare, I was already losing hope about making the trip when the British Council graciously offered to pay my tuition and asked that The Punch where I was the Group News Editor before being redeployed as City Editor, pay for the flight.
Despite my redeployment which could have been a good reason for declining to pay for my flight, the former Managing Director, Mr Ademola Osinubi told me to go ahead with processing my Visa.
Based on the advice of those who were used to how difficult it is to obtain a Visa in the Lagos embassy office due to the large crowd of applicants and the short time I had to apply, I opted to try my luck in the Abuja office.
Due to the limited funds I had, I travelled by night bus for the early morning appointment and asked the Abuja Bureau Chief of The Punch, Yinka Oluwole to give me a loan to pay for the Visa.
After confidently telling the Visa officer I was going for the course to among others reasons, acquire computer and Internet skills, she asked me a question that left me offering an incoherent answer.
” If you learn more about the use of the computer during your course, do you have a personal computer to use in your office?”, she asked. Of course, I had none. I applied for the course through the Secretary of the MD who was the only one that had an Internet-enabled computer in The Punch then.
When the Visa officer waved me to the next line of applicants, I thought she wanted me to step aside and collect my Passport with Denied boldly stamped on it.
I was however told the next line was for those whose Visas were approved to pay the Visa fee. When it was my turn, I gave the amount required to the lady at the counter and she shocked me with the statement she made.
“You don’t have to pay for the Visa. Your Visa is gratis since the British Council is sponsoring you.”
The Punch paid for my flight as promised with an extra amount. I spent three unforgettable Career and life-changing months in Cardiff that opened more doors for international training and travel worldwide.
Today, I have four Passports filled with Visas and already have an all-expenses paid one-week media training invitation in the United States next June.
Notwithstanding the challenges I have had as a journalist like other colleagues, I’m grateful for the many blessings God has given me.
Below is a very apt part of the popular song, Count Your Blessings by Johnson Oatman Jr (1897) for anyone who is wondering if there is any reason to thank God for being a journalist or any other professional.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
* I found the manuscript of a book I wanted to publish on my Cardiff trip and I’m working on the publication soon.
If you need mentoring on how to access and maximize local and international media opportunities contact me:
Lekan Otufodunrin
Media Career Development Network
Email: lekanagency@yahoo.com
Whatsapp: +2348050498530
Website: www.mediacareerng.org
Twitter:
@lotufodunrin
@mediacareerngr
