By Evelyn Usman

Coca-Cola Nigeria at the weekend, held a workshop for undergraduate journalists in tertiary institutions across the country, with a call on the need for them to distinguish themselves in their write-ups if they must emerge award winners in the on-going selection towards November awards.

Student journalists at the workshop

Speaking at the occasion, the multinational company’s Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Mr Celm Ugoji, explained that the workshop which was  aimed at capacity building with a focus on creative writing, ethics, career and personality development would among other things, empower the students build up themselves as individuals and brands.

Noting that youths formed an important segment in the Nigeria population, as they have a major role to play in bringing Nigerians anticipated dreams to fruition, Udoji stated that this need informed the bi-annual workshop jointly sponsored by Coca Cola and NBC to partner with the Nation newspapers, publisher of campus life, on a weekly basis.

“As corporate organization, we believe that we have invested interest to help build up the youth, build up their profile , build up their intellectual capacities, build up their skills to be able  empower themselves without necessary depending on employment when they come out  school. And the best way you can do this is to help them  understand first and foremost, how to build up themselves as individuals and as brands.

Secondly also, how they can gain the most from what they are doing in school and thirdly since   some of them have interest in writing, they may not all become journalists but it’s important for them as responsible members of society to understand what is going on in the society, to have a point of view and also have a confidence to express  those views and engage in the debate that goes on in the society”, Ugoji stated.

But he was quick to clarify that being a member of Campus life journalists was not a guarantee for immediate employment in Coca-Cola, saying every one would be interviewed on an equal platform.

Educating the students on the need to indulge more in investigative journalism, the Editor, Daily Independent Newspapers,  Mr Ikechukewu Amaechi, while delivering a paper on ‘Reporting Skills, Writing the Award winning stories’, said such formed the basis for which they could win any award.

Admonishing them also, to always use simple language when writing, for readers easy understanding,  he  highlighted interviews and press conferences as likeable areas where journalists usual got stories but  was quick to add that as journalists, “you must endeavor to arrive at conference venues earlier than the scheduled time”, pointing ou t that it would afford them the privilege of speaking with the expected guests first before other journalists and thereby, help them get exclusive stories that would give them an edge over their colleagues.