MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the School of Media and Communications at Pan-Atlantic University have partnered to unveil the 3rd edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme.
This was revealed in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
This collaborative initiative aims to empower media practitioners by offering them a unique opportunity to participate in a six-month, fully-funded certificate fellowship.
Scheduled to commence on May 20, 2024, at the main campus of Pan-Atlantic University in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, the MTN Media Innovation Programme seeks to equip media professionals with a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving media landscape.
MTN said through an immersive curriculum that includes a study visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and access to an innovation hub for idea incubation, participants will gain invaluable insights into various aspects of media innovation.
At the end of the training, the 20 successful applicants will qualify as Fellows for the 2024 cohort.
The Fellows would be coached on Nigeria’s technology sector, and the relationship between media and technology, and equipped with the skills to adapt to the changing realities that guarantee career and financial success in their professional practice.
Fellows will also have access to professional resources and mentorship from PAU’s erudite faculty
Speaking on the impact of the programme, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria Tobechukwu Okigbo said, “The media play a crucial role in shaping the society. It is important that they are provided with tools and opportunities to do their jobs better as this ultimately benefits society.
“Our commitment is to continue to empower media practitioners, regardless of platforms, to be able to innovate and create technological-driven solutions to our world. This is what the MTN Media Innovation Programme seeks to accomplish,” he said.
On his part, the Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, stated that the programme brings into play the wide experience that the School has in the training of media practitioners.
“In our various programmes targeted at journalists, we at the School of Media and Communication have always laid a lot of emphasis on the importance of creativity, ethics, and professionalism. The Media Innovation Programme is one more opportunity to drive home these values but with a new emphasis on innovation.
“Journalism remains as important as ever to society, and it is driven by the same values, but journalists require a retooling to meet the technological changes and challenges of today. This is the role that the Media Innovation Programme aims to play, and we are quite happy to be able to partner with MTN to achieve this goal.”