From Learning to Doing: How IMSU Students Experienced Real Media Training at OtownGist

For many journalism students in Nigeria, there’s a gap they don’t always talk about.

They understand the theory. They know the concepts. But when it’s time to create content, speak on air, or handle real media tools, hesitation sets in.

Not because they aren’t capable—but because they haven’t been pushed into real situations.

That gap is exactly what a recent industrial training at OtownGist Media & Creative Hub set out to close.

Over six days between March and April 2026, 77 students from Imo State University stepped into a working media environment in Owerri.

The training, organised by Harsco Media and led by Chinedu Hardy Nwadike, with sessions handled by Chidera Ujah and Harriet Ijeomah, was built around one principle:

You don’t learn media by watching. You learn it by doing.

Where the Real Shift Happened

Most students came in with simple expectations.

Learn how to edit.
Understand interviews.
Try podcasting.
Speak better.

On the surface, that sounds basic. But it reveals something deeper—these are core skills, yet many students never get to practice them.

Egenti Ikedi Marvelous came in with the same mindset.

“I just wanted to learn how to edit and interview people.”

By the end of the training, he wasn’t just learning—he was out in the field with his group, producing a video project and interviewing people about social media and relationships.

That shift—from wanting to learn to actually creating—is where real learning begins.

Learning by Doing

Inside OtownGist, students didn’t sit and watch.

They worked.

They were grouped into teams, given tasks, and pushed to produce content under real conditions. Some handled street interviews. Others worked in the studio. They practiced digital storytelling, radio presentation, and writing for broadcast.

Even the lighter moments carried weight.

A sports debate between a Barcelona and Real Madrid fan forced participants to think on their feet, defend opinions, and communicate clearly.

That’s media training—just not the kind most students are used to.

Confidence Was the Real Outcome

Technical skills matter. But that wasn’t the biggest change.

Confidence was.

Silvanus Favour, who served as a group leader, said speaking confidently was one of her biggest challenges before the programme.

“Before this training, I struggled with confidence in speaking. Now I can speak fluently and express myself without fear.”

For Joy Njoku Chidinma, the shift was even more personal.

“I used to stammer because of pressure and anxiety, but this experience helped me become confident and speak freely.”

Chijindu Anita also saw a change in herself.

“I came in wanting to improve my public speaking, and now I’m more comfortable speaking and even trying podcasting.”

That kind of progress doesn’t show up on a certificate—but it changes everything for a media student.

A Real Working Environment

The environment played a key role.

This didn’t feel like school. It felt like work.

Mistakes were corrected immediately. Good performance was pushed further. Students collaborated, adjusted, and learned in real time.

Silvanus Favour described the teamwork as one of the strongest parts of the experience:

“The teamwork here was a 10 out of 10. We worked together, not as individuals.”

And that matters—because media is not a solo effort.

What This Training Actually Does

Let’s be clear.

Six days will not turn anyone into a complete media professional.

That’s not the goal.

What this training does is give students something most never get:

• real exposure
• practical experience
• a starting point

It replaces hesitation with action.

And once that shift happens, everything else becomes easier to build.

The Part That Matters Going Forward

There’s one question that remains:

What happens after this?

Because training like this can easily become a one-time experience if nothing follows it. If students don’t continue creating, improving, and applying what they’ve learned, the momentum fades.

That’s the real test.

If OtownGist builds on this—with continuous training, real publishing opportunities, and links to paid work—then this becomes more than a training programme.

It becomes a pipeline.

Final Thought

For these 77 students, the biggest shift wasn’t just learning how media works.

It was realizing they can actually do it.

And in a field where hesitation kills opportunity, that might be the most important lesson of all.

If you’re looking to learn media in Owerri, OtownGist Media & Creative Hub offers hands-on training in storytelling, content creation, and digital media.

📍 26 School Road, Owerri
📞 +234 814 749 9358

There are no fixed enrollment periods. You can start anytime.