Education in the SMC: An MTN MIP fellow's perspective

After completing my undergraduate degree in Nigeria, I mentally checked out and concluded that I was done schooling in the country and my reasons aren't far-fetched.

Public universities in Nigeria are plagued with numerous anomalies—your lecturers can literally determine your fate and there’s little or nothing you can do about it; you could do all the right things and still end up disadvantaged because you refused to kiss certain asses.

Ill-equipped laboratories, overcrowded lecture theatres and watching some postgraduate students turn into unofficial drivers/servants for their supervisors were some of the things that put paid to any idea of returning to further my studies in the country.

However, all of that changed when I received an offer to study at the School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan Atlantic University, courtesy of a fully sponsored scholarship by Telecommunications giant MTN.

MTN Media Innovation Program (MIP) in conjunction with the School of Media and Communication, PAU opened my eyes and I realised that top-quality education is indeed available in Nigeria and I didn't have to japa to get it.

Getting to the SMC, I was stunned by the conducive environment and the facilities. Above that, the competent and dedicated lecturers, representing some of the very best (home and abroad) who displayed professionalism, timeliness, and friendliness with students caught my attention.

Also fascinating is the fact that lecturers would often eat breakfast and lunch with students. Yes, it’s an executive programme but it was the first time I was experiencing this in a Nigerian university—a very cool idea if you'd ask me.

At the SMC, feedback is not just a one-way street. Students also rate their lecturers' presentation, delivery and quality of content—something I've always advocated for since my undergraduate days: lecturers in public institutions would conduct themselves better and cease being demigods if they know that feedback from students can also affect their career trajectory.

Numerous presentations, interactive classes, brainstorming sessions and you can stop your lecturer at any time during lecture if you’re not clear about anything are some of the perks of schooling at the SMC.

With the MTN MIP, every aspect of media is discussed, from ethics to stakeholders management, and many more. It's an experience every media practitioner should have. So if you're in the media space, an on-air personnel, social media manager or work in the newsroom (digital or print), then studying at the SMC should be high on your to-do list.