By Rasheeda Hamidu
NatureNews, Africa’s leading environment and sustainability newspaper, on Wednesday held a send-off ceremony for two students who successfully completed their six-month internship programme with the organisation.
The interns, Miss Rasheeda Hamidu and Miss Barbara Nwaiwu, were commended for their diligence, discipline, willingness to learn and commitment throughout their time with the organisation.
The ceremony, held at the NatureNews corporate headquarters in Abuja, brought together members of the organisation’s management and editorial team.
The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of NatureNews, Mr Aliu Akoshile, commended the interns for embracing the demands of newsroom work and developing their practical journalism skills during the internship.
“When they joined us six months ago, they came as students. Today, they are leaving as budding journalists. They embraced the rigour of the newsroom – meeting deadlines, fact-checking, field reporting, writing clean copy and upholding the ethics of professional journalism,” Akoshile said.
He noted that environmental and climate journalism requires accuracy, depth and a strong sense of public interest, adding that the interns adapted quickly to the demands of the profession.
Akoshile encouraged the interns to combine the practical knowledge gained during their internship with the theoretical foundation acquired through their university education.
A major highlight of the ceremony was their investiture as Pioneer Campus Ambassadors of NatureNews, a role that will provide them with opportunities to contribute editorial materials, including news, features, opinion pieces and campus environmental stories.
The Campus Ambassador initiative is designed to extend environmental awareness and advocacy to tertiary institutions while providing opportunities for young people interested in climate, sustainability and environmental journalism.
The Publisher also appreciated the Department of Development and Strategic Communication, University of Abuja, particularly its Head, Dr Aishat Abdulrauf Salau, the departmental lecturers, Dr Jamila Muhammad Dahiru and Mr Auwal Sani, for initiating and facilitating the collaboration with NatureNews.
He said the partnership between the university and the organisation demonstrates the value of connecting classroom learning with practical newsroom experience and helping students develop skills relevant to the media industry.
The Managing Director of NatureNews, Mr Rasheed Yusuf, also congratulated the interns and expressed the organisation’s willingness to continue providing opportunities for students to undertake vacation attachments with the newspaper.
The MD said the management was pleased with the interns’ commitment during their time with the organisation and presented them with honoraria and NatureNews-branded items.
Speaking on behalf of the interns, Miss Barbara Nwaiwu thanked the management and editorial team for the opportunity, mentorship and exposure provided throughout the internship, promising to uphold the values of the organisation as a Campus Ambassador.
The ceremony marked the completion of the interns’ six-month newsroom experience and the beginning of their new roles as Pioneer Campus Ambassadors of NatureNews.
