Victor EzejaThe Board of Directors of Newstide Publications Limited, publishers of Prime Business Africa (www.primebusiness.africa), has approved the Journalism Mentorship Project (JMP) initiated by the online newspaper to be extended to five other Nigerian universities.
The seven-man Executive Board, which met on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, expressed satisfaction with the novel journalism mentorship scheme, which it described as the first of its kind in Africa, and mandated www.primebusines.africa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, to reach out to five new universities for the programme.
The project is in line with the multimedia firm’s vision of building a sustainable journalism practice in Africa by grooming budding journalists passionate about making great impacts in the profession and society in general. The Journalism Mentorship Project of www.primebusiness.africa emphasises sound ethics in 21st century journalism practice, Effective Communication/Writing Skills as well as industry-specific Business and Economic Reporting techniques with strong emphasis on Sustainability and Development issues in Africa.
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The programme will involve selecting students of Mass Communication in universities to curate contents within and outside their campuses under the tutelage of the Editorial management team of Prime Business Africa to hone their writing skills.
The Board of Newstide Publications, during its meeting on Wednesday, gave approval for the programme to initially run in five Nigerian universities, starting with the University of Nigeria Nsukka, which kick-started the project on February 2, 2022.
Already, the Management of the online newspaper has appointed its first Campus (Student) Editor, Miss Success Chisom Ezeobi at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), who will work with an inaugurated seven-man Campus Editorial Board guided by the editorial team of the newspaper.
While commending the Journalism Mentorship Project, Ejeviome Eloho Otobo, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow Global Governance Institute Brussels, Belgium and member of Prime Business Africa Editorial Board, said, “Mentorship programmes can make an important contribution to the professional growth and development of individual beneficiaries. This is particularly true in the field of Journalism. This is why l strongly support the effort of Prime Business Africa to launch the Journalism Mentorship Project initially in five Nigerian universities.”
Deputy chairperson of the board, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, a renowned communication scholar who was recently appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Paul’s University, Awka, applauded the project saying it is “a bold and commendable initiative by Prime Business Africa for achieving the much-needed meeting of ‘Town & Gown’ in the Journalism profession – a powerful tool for nurturing professionalism in would-be/student-journalists.”
Another member of the Newstide Publications Board and Member of the Editorial Board of Prime Business Africa, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, an ex-Editor of The Guardian On Sunday, generally commended the operations of the online newspaper in terms of quality of contents offered to its readers, and seasoned professionals in the board who provide quality advice for effective delivery.
Commending the online publication he said: “Prime Business Africa is a niche medium with a clear mandate: exposing the hidden and often overlooked treasures of Africa.”
He further stated that, “with its well trained and skilled reportorial team and Editorial Board full of top-grade professionals in diverse disciplines, the PBA has, in a short period of existence, positioned itself as the most trusted medium for authentic information about the business and socio-political environment of Africa.”
“Its well-researched news, features and editorial commentaries have become staple to readers and audiences in varied stations and disciplines across the continent,” Anikulapo added.
Other members of the board commended the management of the publication for its operational performances so far in terms of improved website ranking, both globally and in Nigeria, and increase in number of users and viewers.
“We are really very glad at the rate of progress so far,” said Chairman of the board, Dr. Bongo Adi, who also advised the Management to sustain the pace with which it is moving in operations to continue making remarkable progress.
Dr Adi, a renowned economic analyst at the Lagos Business School (LBS), said the Journalism Mentorship Project would be extended to other universities in due time.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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