Oasis Magazine Chapel Visits Prof. Ben Nwanne, As DELSU Don Seeks Stronger Classroom, Newsroom Link

By Daniel Umukoro and Akpobomeh Oghenerukevwe

The Oasis Magazine Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has paid a courtesy visit to Professor Ben Nwanne of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, with the communication scholar calling for a stronger relationship between the classroom and the newsroom.

Prof. Nwanne made the call in Abraka on Tuesday when members of the Oasis Magazine Chapel visited him as part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between the media platform, the university and professionals in the communication industry.

The engagement focused on the growth of Oasis Magazine Chapel, journalism practice, student development, marketing, sustainability, professional journalism, the role of the NUJ and opportunities for collaboration between Oasis Magazine and DELSU’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.

Prof. Nwanne, who has experience as a scholar, lecturer, author and practising journalist, said the relationship between the classroom and the newsroom appeared to have weakened, urging both professional journalists and academics to work towards restoring the connection.

He recalled that he was once a member of the NUJ in Lagos when he was practising journalism, noting that his experience in the newsroom had remained relevant to his teaching.

According to him, students being trained for journalism and other communication professions would eventually have to practise what they learnt in the classroom, making practical exposure and interaction with professional journalists important.

He therefore called on the NUJ in Delta State to strengthen its relationship with communication lecturers and students.

Nwanne also stressed that professional journalism remained important despite the growing influence of social media.

He acknowledged that social media had significantly influenced journalism and made it possible for almost anybody to publish information, but noted that a professional journalist is trained.

He explained that professional journalists undergo formal education and training, acquire relevant qualifications and gather experience before entering the profession.

The don urged journalists to maintain professional standards by thoroughly investigating stories, obtaining relevant facts, writing properly and editing their reports before publication.

He said good journalism should not only inform but also educate the public.

Nwanne Congratulates Oasis Magazine Chapel

Prof. Nwanne congratulated Oasis Magazine Chapel on attaining chapel status, noting that there were criteria that had to be met before a chapel could be established.

He also acknowledged the challenges involved in building a viable media platform, stressing that success does not come easily.

He urged the leadership and staff of Oasis Magazine to work collectively towards strengthening the platform.

Don Urges Oasis to Build Relationship With DELSU

On how Oasis Magazine could benefit from its proximity to DELSU Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Prof. Nwanne advised the media platform to deliberately build a stronger relationship with the faculty.

He specifically encouraged the media house to take advantage of students through industrial attachment opportunities, noting that some students could subsequently be employed by the media organisation.

He also encouraged the platform to maintain relationships with lecturers in the faculty who could provide professional guidance and assistance.

Nwanne noted that DELSU had a long-established tradition in Mass Communication and had produced graduates and academics who were contributing to the communication profession in different parts of Nigeria and beyond.

ALSO READ: Institute Of Education: DELSU Announces 2026/2027 Admission Into Diploma Programmes

He said relationship-building was critical, stressing that organisations must deliberately reach out to institutions and individuals if they wanted to benefit from available opportunities.

Offers Professional Support to Oasis Magazine 

The professor also offered to support Oasis Magazine professionally in areas including editing, story ideas and other professional services within his capacity.

He recalled the support he received from Oasis Magazine when he served as Director of Ceremonies, Information and Public Relations at DELSU.

According to him, stories from the university were promptly republished by Oasis Magazine, both online and in its print edition.

He said the visibility given to the university’s activities through the medium was noticed by the Vice-Chancellor at the time.

Nwanne therefore used the occasion to officially appreciate Oasis Magazine for the support it provided during his tenure as Director.

Nwanne Charges Students on Commitment, Discipline

The professor also charged students studying journalism, advertising, public relations and other communication-related disciplines to embrace commitment, discipline and hard work.

Comparing students of the present generation with those of his time, he said the major difference was largely commitment.

He noted that students today had access to social media, computers, artificial intelligence and other technological tools that were not available to previous generations.

However, he cautioned students against abusing these technologies, particularly by relying on artificial intelligence to do their academic work without developing their own intellectual capacity.

He urged students to use technology as a tool for improvement rather than as a substitute for learning and personal effort.

Nwanne also emphasised punctuality and discipline, saying such qualities were essential to professional journalism.

He explained that a journalist who fails to keep an appointment with a news source could lose the opportunity to obtain important information.

Umukoro: DELSU Has Contributed to Oasis Magazine Growth

Earlier, the Publisher of Oasis Magazine, Pastor Daniel Umukoro, said DELSU had played a significant role in the growth of the media platform, noting that the relationship had contributed to the emergence of the Oasis Magazine Chapel.

He said the establishment of the Chapel had given Oasis Magazine an advantage which the platform was still exploring and seeking to maximise.

Umukoro commended the Vice-Chancellor of DELSU, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for his support for the medium and the institution’s media activities.

“We are here to say we want to partner with you more and also the media faculty in DELSU. We will be visiting the Dean and other stakeholders soon,” he said.

He called on students to embrace opportunities to report for Oasis Magazine and commended the faculty for producing quality graduates.

Umukoro also acknowledged the role of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, in bringing Oasis Magazine closer to the university management, adding that the present administration had taken the relationship further.

Umukoro Hails Oborevwori

The Publisher also commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, describing him as a lover of the media.

He said journalists in the state are benefitting from the Governor’s support while still being allowed to carry out their professional duties, including constructive criticism of government.

He also recalled that the Delta State Council of the NUJ had received a bus from the state government the previous day.

Oasis Magazine Chapel Now 18 Members

In her vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Oasis Magazine Chapel, Comrade Vivian Erivwode, thanked Prof. Nwanne for receiving the Chapel and sharing his experience with the delegation.

She disclosed that the Chapel had grown from 15 to 18 members, adding that one of its objectives was to recruit more journalists into Oasis Magazine who would subsequently become members of the Chapel.

Erivwode also commended Pastor Umukoro for initiating the visit and praised the Acting Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Professor Andrew Abuza, for his leadership.

The engagement, which began as a courtesy visit, ultimately became a broader discussion on the future of journalism, the development of young communication professionals and the opportunities for collaboration between Oasis Magazine, the NUJ and DELSU.

The discussions also reinforced the need for Oasis Magazine Chapel to build stronger institutional relationships, invest in young journalists, strengthen its professional standards and maximise its relationship with DELSU communication and media community.