#######From Prof. M. S. Rabiu

Twenty boys cannot play for twenty years. We meet to part, and part to meet, according to the greatest of all writers, William Shakespeare. Accordingly, here are two precious parting presents, in words of inspiration, to an excelling 2023/2024 FACOMSSA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, led by President Fater Tyoakosu Desmond, and its 586-strong and substantial members of Congress:

DISH OF STIMULATION (1)

TAKE YOUR PLACE! ACTIONABLE PIECES OF ADVICE FOR UPWARD STRIVERS

Prof. M. S. Rabiu Head, Department of Mass Communication, and Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Nasarawa State University, Keffi

1. INTRODUCTION In journalism, which involves news gathering, facts finding and reporting, we take advantage of the curiosity of others and give them something to feed on. Additionally, the young and yearning ones always need guidance for their professional growth, rise and success. Forever, social climbers require information for their edification and transformation. Furthermore, philosophers say motivation is the fuel necessary to rev up the human engine and keep it running. For these reasons, the following points are given to serve as lamps to the feet of the 586 members of the 2023/2024 graduating set of Mass Communication students at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, as they march through the dense and difficult forest of life, to discover their opportunities and possibilities.

2. THE ARBITRARY NATURE OF FATE The changeability of destiny shows the randomness and unpredictability of fortunes, suggesting that life’s outcomes are often beyond individual control and shaped by a confluence of factors. Despite this inconsistency of circumstances, some pieces of advice to the young ones, who are on the threshold of their careers, would be in order. Some of the best times of your lives haven’t even happened yet. Philosophers say life is struggle, and struggle is life. It is not necessarily the big places that prepare you for big things. It is doing the little things right, every day, that brings advancement. God can use the ordinary places and ordinary things of life to build you. Your daily lives are qualifying grounds. In your journey of life, everything that happens to you and the encounters you will have, are part of your transport fare to your destiny.

3. LIFE AND ITS PARADOXES The period between birth and death is full of paradoxes, also known as contradictions, dichotomies or incongruities. Paradox is one of the figures of speech in literature. In his book, Henry V, William Shakespeare makes this observation about life: “The world, familiar to us, and unknown”. And so, life comprises complementary opposites. Therefore, the theory of the Duality of Life says where there is sadness, there must also be joy, failure/success, black/white, up/down, left/right, male/female, poverty/prosperity etc. Accordingly, we must all endure life, to enjoy it later. Thus we must embrace adversity as our greatest teacher for it moulds our resilience. Joyfully, adversity is for our advancement. We can now see why journeys to success land are not always smooth and straightforward. Life is characterized by disagreement and discrepancy between what we expect and what we eventually see. No matter how well you prepare and plan, your design may still end up somehow. To repeat a vital point, journeys to success land are not always smooth and straightforward: There are mountains to climb and valleys to cross; there are highs, lows and rough edges. On the way to accomplishments, you would encounter thorns, and many hurdles to cross. But, through them all, if you pass the perseverance test, and with the helping hand of God, you shall overcome. Those obstacles are all obstructions for opportunities, when they are overcome. Focus and faith, determination and doggedness, shall guide you through. There is grace, when God is in the race of life for you. Therefore, to succeed in life, you would need God, but you would also need gut (gallantry, great heartedness: the strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger) Thus far, we have seen clearly, that life is an undulating wave of sweet, sorrow and sadness, as dictated by its ups and downs. Its nature teaches us that we are never in control. Life is full of experiences, lessons, pains and joys. Thus it is beautiful, as much as it is a beast, in all its possibilities and new beginnings. Therefore, we should learn to embrace life in all its vicissitudes. After a heavy storm comes a clear, beautiful sky. Accordingly, we should keep expecting the best. Hope, that pulsating and uplifting feeling, should be kept alive and alert.

4. TIME Time is life, hence the two words are conjoined as lifetime, one’s lifetime. Therefore, time is your most precious resource in life. Don’t waste it. Spend it wisely on what truly matters. Time always reveals what you definitely mean to people.

5. SUCCESS For success to happen, you have to constantly apply the Law of Focus on your goals, vision and purpose; besides ensuring that you are in control of your emotions, thoughts, and actions. Nobody is too big for a fall. All that is needed is carelessness. You don’t need to strut like a cock because of your attainments. For this reason, success in life is not just about qualifications; individual qualities are also required here. Success always demands a season of pressing. For every success, there is a price for the prize. The scar of every star is sacrifice. You must go without something to have something else. You must also go without, so that somebody, or others, may have. Furthermore, many people fail because they fail to make another attempt. Literature says a just man fails seven times and rises up again. However, most people quit before their third attempt. Indeed, life is a school, and experience is the teacher. And the way to success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge.

6. START EARLY, THINK BIG, DREAM BIG According to Mr. A. A. Efunkoya, a former principal of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School: The morning shows the evening. If you labour hard and sweat well in the morning, then, the evening is for you is a rest period, and you will feed fat on the fruit of your labour. However, if you lazily while away your time, starvation awaits you in the evening. Be ambitious in the right way. An English proverb says: ‘It is a crime to aim low’. Therefore, aim high. Decide that you will make success out of your schooling here so that in the near future, you will not lament. The beginning shows what the end will be like. This is your morning, your new beginning. Wisely seize every available opportunity to excel on all fronts ─ Rabiu, M. S. (2013). The World of News: Career Prospects in Journalism and Mass Communication. Ibadan: Stirling-Horden Publishers Nig. Ltd, p.48. Mr. Efunkoya, was addressing new students admitted into his school in the 1960s, in a speech titled “A New Beginning”. But his points are equally applicable to you, as fresh graduates, who are in the morning of your lives, who are ready to breakout into a new beginning as workforce for the advancement of the society. You must aim high, for it is a crime to aim low. When you can be camels or horses, why will you choose to be dogs, rats or ants?

7. DEVELOP FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY Foster a sense of spirituality and faith. Whether through religious practices, meditation or other spiritual activities, connecting with a higher power or greater purpose can provide guidance, comfort and strength. According to the scripture, faith is evidence of things not seen and substance of things hoped for. It is such a power that keeps men away from low attributes and mean acts, and encourages them to achieve high virtues and clean morals. Faith is your armour. If you stay on the faith lane, it does good to your health, purse and character. Raise your level of faith. Ascend to a higher realm.

8. EMBRACE YOUR INDIVIDUALITY Showcase your uniqueness, rather than conforming to societal expectations or trying to fit into a mould. This way, you can tap/into your full potentials and make a significant impact. Believe in yourselves. This is the cornerstone of success. Conquer self-doubt with unwavering faith in yourselves. Be yourselves. Stop thinking about what others think of you. According to David Icke, the greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think. Lao Tzu, also commented that when you care about what other people think, you will always be their prisoner. In life, some people will like you, others will not. For these reasons, hug your uniqueness and let go of the need for universal approval. Accordingly, do what makes you happy, provided it is positive. Chase your dream. Live life on your terms, not others’.

9. ALWAYS IMPROVE Continuous learning is the key to staying ahead. Change is the Law of Life, and so, the world is constantly changing, and new skills are always emerging. Therefore, you would have to stay relevant and competitive in the long run.

10. EDUCATION, EXPOSURE, EXPERIENCE Those are the Three Es (3Es) of life. In summary, they say we must desire to see something of the world. We should not over localize ourselves, being born and bred in Keffi, obtaining all our educational certificates in Keffi, and then working in Keffi. Is the world all about keffi, Nasarawa State? We must depart to arrive. Sometimes we go away

so that we return better than we went. We need to travel around and see the world before life sees us out of the world. In a vast, varied and complicated world, a diversity of experience is important. We need to have a further breadth of encounters across different people, places and cultures.

11. TRAIN YOURSELVES FOR LEADERSHIP If you become leaders later, realize that you are appointed or elected into those positions to help others. The positions aren’t just for you. Leadership development is a life long journey, not a destination. It requires a continuous learning process. You can always benefit from new ideas, perspectives and skills to enhance your effectiveness. Leadership is about influencing others positively. Its qualities are vision, integrity, ability to inspire others, decision making and taking responsibility for those decisions.

12. CURE YOURSELVES OF EXCUSITIS These are major barriers to success. Common excuses are related to health, intelligence, age, and luck. Focus on your strengths and take responsibility for your actions.

13. CONCLUSION Everyone has his journey. Comparisons are futile. Embrace your unique paths. Invest in yourselves. It empowers you to give your best to others. Self-care is non- negotiable. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Time is precious. Prioritize what decidedly matters, and make every moment count. Appreciate what you have, a degree certificate, but get back to further work on yourselves, intellectually. There is no end to learning. It can only terminate on the day we drop dead. Consequently, be ready by reading. Embrace the culture of lifelong learning. Do the hard things. Challenge yourselves as often as possible, Get out of your comfort zones. By your works, you can achieve historical immortality. Success is dependent upon the glands ─ sweat glands. When you do more than you are paid for, eventually, you would be paid for more than you do. Good luck to you all, the 2023/2024 Graduating Set of BSc Mass Communication Students, under the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, at the great Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

DISH OF MOMENTUM (2)

TO MOVE ON SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER YOUR BSc DEGREE IN MASS COMMUNICATION

Prof. M. S. Rabiu Head, Department of Mass Communication, and Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies Nasarawa State University, Keffi

1. INTRODUCTION With your degree in Mass Communication, you now have the possibility and power to create a new and nutritious future for yourselves and the society. Who you are today is the result of your previous actions. What were the actions? First, you attended nursery/primary schools, then junior secondary schools. Thereafter, you proceeded to senior secondary schools. You then progressed to this University, some through polytechnics. And now, you are delightful degree certificate holders. Everything in your lives, including your past, present and future, is connected. That is why if one was notorious from the beginning, the bad name or characterization follows one on and on and on. From today, your actions shall shape your future. Therefore, take charge of your lives by cultivating positive habits, as suggested in the following thirteen (13) points below:

2. GRADUATION CEREMONY OR THE COMMENCEMENT OF LIFE? In the American educational system, the formal ceremony organised when students complete their Bachelors (and even M.A, MPhil, MSc and PhD) degree programme is captured as “Commencement Ceremony” (not graduation ceremony). That was how it was described in the programme of events, 32 years ago, in 1992, when I completed my Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Accordingly, for the Americans, when a child completes his first degree programme, he is beginning (commencing) a new life, his own life, independent of his parents. From that day, he is on his own, as we say in Nigeria: to fend for himself, to struggle for himself, for all his needs; although the parents may help him with a loan, for critical needs, when they arise. And the child has to formally apply for the loan, and it will be filed away. He must pay it back later. He must learn to stand on his own.

3. YOUR BSc DEGREE IS NOT A PASSPORT TO PROSPERITY Not in all cases. The degree certificate is not an automatic propeller to social, economic or political success. So many other things are factored in. A degree certificate is not the sole determinant of success. It takes the grace of God, not just the grades from school, to be victorious in life. No wonder, wise King Solomon, the son of David, the King of Jerusalem, said, in Ecclesiastes, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. Additionally, in today’s world, your

work is your worth, not your credentials. Certification with capacity is commendable, but certification without capacity is condemnable. Accordingly, your standing must be outstanding. Also, if you have a degree certificate, that is your personal achievement. The next thing you need to do is to advance the society. Make your knowledge relevant and resonant to societal needs.

4. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Invest in yourselves without hesitation. It pays dividends for a life time. Aim to become better than yesterday, every single day. Always improve. According to the first American billionaire, John D. Rockefeller, don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. Therefore, be the best you can be. Good enough is not good enough if you can be better. And “better” is not good enough if you can be best. Continuous learning should be your habit. If knowledge is power, reading is your super power. Therefore, read and rise. Attend seminars and workshops. You can always benefit from new ideas, perspectives and skills to enhance your effectiveness. Knowledge does not end because you have a degree, whether it is B.A/BSc, M.A/MPhil/MSc, or PhD; or even because you are a professor. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement, as wise men say. For example, even though people say I write well, I still revise books on writing skills etc. And I have not stopped revisiting my ten dictionaries (variety is the spice of life, indeed), and five thesauruses. In this connection, my best dictionaries are The 2,074-page American Heritage Dictionary of the English, 4th Edition, published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, USA, and The World Book Dictionary. And my top-drawer thesaurus is the 1,123-page The Chambers Thesaurus, edited by Martin H. Manser, and published by Chambers Harrap Publishers (2014).
   Truly, for those who wish to rise considerably, make a difference and a lasting impact, they need to demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous development and growth.

5. BELIEVE YOU CAN SUCCEED AND YOU WILL This is called the power of self-belief. The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Therefore, to achieve big things, you must, first, believe that you can.

6. DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE AND DEVELOP MENTAL TOUGHNESS What truly motivates you can guide your decisions and actions. Find meaning in your work. Fly high, sky high. There should be no boundary in your imagination. Dare to dream big. You are not paying for it. Wake up something inside you. Setting goals is essential for personal growth. It is important you design clear, specific and achievable goals, which provide direction, inspiration and a road map for your life journey. Write them down, develop a plan, a Personal Development Plan (PDP), to achieve them, and review progress regularly. Set high goals and believe that you can achieve them. People often limit themselves with small things of life. They need to stretch their imaginations and aim higher in their personal and professional lives. They have to develop a growth mind set, the belief that their abilities/intelligence can be enhanced through dedication and hard work. Such individuals who are limited in thinking should embrace challenges, learn from failures and continuously seek opportunities for growth and improvement.

7. CULTIVATE DISCIPLINE Do what needs to be done even when it is challenging. Therefore, self-control is your ally. Face your challenges with continence and contentment. The temptations and tragedies are tests; pass them. Discipline not only determines success but how long you can stay successful.

8. HAVE INTEGRITY Character matters. Live above shame. It pays to be a person of integrity. Whatever route you take in life, look for what is lawful and clean. Integrity, involving uprightness, is the first step to true greatness. The prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) confirms the point by saying: “I have been sent only for the purpose of perfecting good morals”. Integrity is the integration (unification) of what we are as a whole: behavior at home, in the streets, at work, when we travel away from home etc. In this country, unfortunately, integrity is an orphan, while immorality and corruption have so many family members. Let’s choose to be virtuous. This path may reduce your network, cost you friends and opportunities but it will earn you trust and enable you set a high standard for integrity in your work place. Thus let’s uphold honesty and ethical behavior in all aspects of our lives. Being truthful and consistent in our actions and words builds respect with others and strengthens our character. Also, we should live right every day because God is watching over us.

9. FOCUS ON CREATING VALUE Focus means: • Follow • One • Course • Until •

Successful The difference between distinction and destruction is association. Accordingly, be careful who you associate with. Your time, your concentration and your energy should be devoted to worthy causes. Those who are astray, distraction defines them. Therefore, the questions arise: What would you spend your time on, as you graduate, before you are officially mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme? And then after NYSC, before you secure a job, what would you do with that waiting period? You must detect and discern your ordination and occupation.

10. STAND FOR SOMETHING; BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission. Therefore, never let your fear decide your future. Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude. Accordingly, define your purpose and be persistent. Establish yourselves as in-demand experts in your sub-fields under the broad umbrella of mass communication; whether it is newspaper/magazine journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising, strategic communication, film and multimedia, development communication or information and media studies (the social media). Somebody, somewhere, is watching. Keep writing, keep speaking, keep presenting, keep working, and keep worshiping. Remain focused, no matter the obstacles. It is persistence that enables a river to wear out a rock. Most people fail in their dreams, not from lack of ability but from lack of commitment. Thus many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Each of us has the same amount of time in the day. It is what we do with it that counts. For this reason, lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have 24-hour days. We need a plan to build a home. Thus, to build a life, it is even more important to have a plan.

11. SERVE OTHERS Engage in acts of service and volunteering. Helping others not only benefits those in need but also brings joy and fulfillment to our own lives. Additionally, volunteering (contributing, donating, giving, giving away, presenting) helps to position you for jobs, for money and for success. The best way to attract opportunities is, first of all, to give free service. Volunteerism is the act or practice of doing volunteer work in community service.

12. NO EXCUSES Destroy your excuses before they destroy you. Challenges make champions. Therefore, scale over your hurdles in life. You are in a race, a race to ride over the stumbling blocks of life. And you have to win the prize. The future belongs to risk takers, not comfort seekers. Become champions, not just of academics, but also of accomplishments.

13. MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN INDIFFERENT WORLD How do you go above and beyond the call of duty? Fred Lifers commented: “To see people who will notice a need in the society, and do something about it, those are my heroes”. You must have initiatives that show your commitment to helping others, without expecting anything in return. Always try to do something significant in life. Where you start is not as important as where you finish. It is a world of work and worship. For somebody who strives, a winning day shall arrive. Therefore, have the will to work and win. Prioritize making a positive difference in the lives of others, rather than seeking personal gains or recognition.

14. SHOW YOUR GLORY What is a man or a woman without glory? What is a man or a woman without a story that shows glory? Tell yourselves: “The stories of our lives shall be glorious. We can make them so. We will make them so. We must make them so” With this resolution, move on to amplify your work and influence. Focus on adding value. The best gift you can give as talented persons is inspiration. When you succeed, you have a great responsibility to motivate others. Stand out among the crowd to be a standard.

15. CONCLUSION Thus far, we have seen thirteen (13) points about the importance of self-discipline: goals setting, prioritization, faith, hard work, continuous learning, personal accountability and a positive mindset. Be busy building your lives and visions through them. Aim at constructing a heroic legacy. To live in the hearts of those you leave behind is not to die. And the Holy Quran advises: “Don’t play and paddle in shallow triffles”. In the end, what would you be remembered for? The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed: “And grant me an honourable mention among those who come after me”. Accordingly, let people remember you honourably. Finally, may our graves be more comfortable than our beds.