A lecturer at Yaba College of Technology, Ben Samuel, has emphasised that academic success is deeply intertwined with a conducive environment and staff welfare.

Samuel, who led National Diploma students of mass communication on a familiarisation visit to the corporate headquarters of The Guardian, Rutam House, lamented the challenges confronting the sector and urged the government to give priority to education.

He highlighted issues of welfare, infrastructure, as well as teaching and learning tools as some of the challenges that must be tackled.

“We need a conducive environment to teach, and for students to learn, government needs to prioritise the sector by investing more in education, particularly in the area of funding, staff welfare and infrastructure,” Samuel stated.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Emmanuel Aruna, expressed gratitude to the organisation for the opportunity.

Aruna noted that the visit has helped them gain practical knowledge and insights into the media industry, which will be invaluable to their future careers.

“We have been exploring a lot of practical aspects of education in Yabatech, taking a lot of measures in making sure that we get a lot of practicals,” he said.

The students were given an overview of The Guardian’s operations, including the editorial process, production, and circulation. They also had the opportunity to interact with journalists and other media professionals, gaining valuable insights into the industry.