Vet Journalist, Lekan Otufodunrin celebrate Fifthieth Birthday with Cubs

There are different way of celebration, while some love it in fewer people [maybe family and few friends] having fun to the fullest, some love it in Larger numbers of people. So What Man 2 loves is surely too large, or straightly  put, 'Overcrowded' for the first Man.

Some would love to celebrate within there strata, while some would love it in mixed classes. 

The Editor, Online, The Nation Newspaper, Lekan Otufodunrin chooses to celebrate his fiftieth Birthday in a very Unique and Corporate way, He lined two workshops to make his Golden Jubilee on earth. One on Wednesday, 7th May, 2014, aim at upgrading young journalists in Lagos and [other South West States], Nigeria and the other which comes up on Friday 9th May, 2014, the D' Day.

At the first Workshop [targeted at young Journalists], tagged Basic Media Development Training, designed to awaken journalists and future practitioners to maximize their potentials in their day-to-day practice. Otufodunrin in conjugation with Laide Akanni of Journalist against AIDS, JAAIDS, break Journalism down, making the calling simpler for the young cubs.

In four Sections -with breaks for networking, responds, Questions and Answers- Otufodunrin made the young journalist not only realize WHAT is expected of them as Journalists but also WHY and HOW to go about it. He put more emphasis on Purpose Driven Journalism. How to fulfill their purpose in Journalism.

Sharing his personal encounters as journalist and also that of others who are either journalists or other professionals.

The Vet, painted a virtual picture of what the Portrait of a Journalist of Purpose should look like. He uses Ayo Arowolo, a former Managing Editor and CEO of Financial Standard. Otufodunrin shared the Arowolo's story of hardship as a journalist but "Despite the hard time, Arowolo had no doubt that journalism was is calling."  So, Otufodunrin impored the participants to be focus, steadfast and passionate about the job. He noted that Secret of Arowolo's success is his clear understanding of God's purpose for him in journalism.

Talking about What Purpose is, Lekan Otufodunrin called on the young journalists to the "importance to have a purpose in life to serve as a compass that guides our decision at every stage, expecially while deciding on a career." He called attention of the young journalist to why people failed or not succeed in the job, the noted that "many do not succeed in the profession because it's either God has not destined them to be one, or they do not understand why God has made them one."

The Vet refilled that the secret of being a journalist of purpose is to develop a passion and vision of how to make an impact in the profession. 


Giving case studies, encounters from journalists and non-journalists here in Nigeria and beyond. On Understanding God's Purpose, he advised the young journalists present at the Workshop that "whenever that situation they find themselves, whether the media organization is depressed or not, they need to seek God's direction instead of jumping any opportunity to change jobs." He added that "Even in the face of great deprivation, which is often the case most times with journalists, there's need to maintain trust in God.

And On Practical Ways Of Being a Journalist of Purpose, Otufodunrin noted that there are practical steps to be taken and not just wishes and procrastinating. So as not to end up like some journalists who dont have unique professional accomplishment they should do the following.

• Know what God really wants you to be in Journalism. There's reason to know which beat one can be excell. Some excellent sportswriters of today would not have made much progress in the profession if they had been reporting business.   

• Have a vision of what you want to accomplish. Sharing stories of Jim Johnson of African Challenge, Late Omololu Falobi of JAAIDS, Larry Izamoje, Otufodunfin advised the young journalists to have a clearly-stated mission statements that will clearly guide their professional career. In a dynamic profession like journalism, a journalist with a purpose cannot afford to be lazy and complacent, he noted

• Be determined to succeed, Otufodunrin stated that one sure way to be accomplished is to be very enthusiastic about the job. He advised his audiences not to allow any difficult editor or circumstance kill their dreams to get to the top of their career. He said " You don't need to become an editor to be an outstanding journalist. ...maximize your potentials and opportunities" 

• Be Hardworking
• Know when to move
• Maximize your potentials And lastly
• Maintain a high moral standard.

Lekan Otufodunrin expressed dissatisfaction on the fact that media organizations don't give periodic Career Development training to Journalist like they do in other professions. So he encourage the Cubs to acquired necessary media skills.

The Vet highlighted Trainings, Networking among others, as what they need to reach the pinnacle of journalism.He enjoined them to join Media Associations, Union, like NUJ, NIPR, NAWOJ, etc home and abroad.

The participating Journalist were at the end of the workshop networked and they all had fun!