Sodiq Oguntoye
The Association of Mass Communication Students (AMACOS), led by Comr. Afolabi Wasiu has announced the upcoming fifth edition of its public speaking competition.
The president disclosed this during an interview with Press Club MAPOLY on Tuesday, highlighting that the competition has been a tradition in the Mass Communication Department over the years.
According to him, the screening sessions are to commence on April 15th and 16th while the grand finale is to take place on April 17th.
Afolabi emphasized the significance of the event, stating that it provides a platform for students to demonstrate their prowess in communication, as he revealed that the form is to be obtained with the sum of Two Thousand Naira (₦2,000).
He further elaborated on the theme ‘Pen and Podium,’ explaining that ‘Pen’ symbolizes the academic aspect of mass communication, while ‘Podium’ represents the stage where students can exhibit their oratory skills beyond the confines of the classroom.
The president also revealed attractive prizes for the winners, which include a cash prize of ₦50,000 for the first position, ₦30,000 for the second position, and ₦20,000 for the third position. He stated that this edition boasts the highest cash prizes ever awarded from the inception of the program.
Afolabi emphasized the impact of the program on alumni of the department, citing examples of past participants who have leveraged on this opportunity to pursue their careers.
He mentioned individuals such as Samson Omoniyi, also known as Heritage, who used the program as a springboard for his ambition to become the Student Union Government president of the institution.
He also referenced the transformation of Psalmist, a former participant who is now excelling in content creation, and Adekunle Ridwan (Baba Kay), a former president of AMACOS whose involvement in the program contributed to his personal development.
His words: “The AMACOS public speaking is a program that has been happening in the department of Mass communication for a while and this particular one will be the 5th edition.
“This is a program that enables the student to showcase their writing and speech delivery ability.
“This year’s AMACOS Public speaking competition is tagged ‘Pen and podium’ whose pen represents core discipline as mass communicators while the podium represents a stage beyond the student hall to showcase participants’ talents.
“There is a prize for the winner aside from the monetary prize we also have other prizes for them, the first position will be going home with Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000), the second position with Thirty Thousand Naira (₦30,000) while the third position will receive Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) and this has been the highest cash prize ever from the program so far.
“There are a lot of benefits this particular program has to build a lot of students, The former SUG president of our institution during the 2018/19 academic session, Samson Omoniyi, attributes his ambition to become SUG president to this program, as it provided him with the platform to thrive and considering the career of Psalmist, who is now a sensational content creator and he was a former participant of this program and looking at Ridwan Adekunle (Baba Kay) his involvement in this program contributed to his personal development.”
Afolabi also shared his participation in the program during his ND days and highlighted how it has played a pivotal role in shaping his current leadership position.
“I participated in this program during my ND days, although I didn’t win, it still contributed to my development.”
The president encouraged participation from all Mass Communication students and members of the institution, emphasizing that the program offers valuable learning opportunities for attendees from various backgrounds.
He urged students to embrace the spirit of competition while stating that everyone who dares to participate is a winner, regardless of the outcome. He expressed optimism about the success of the event and extended an invitation to all students to join and showcase their talents.