‘I wrote News Writing and Reporting during ASUU strike’

The book which was launched and presented to the public last week at the University’s auditorium attracted dignitaries and scholars as well as politicians who showered encomiums on the young author and eulogized him for his hard work which had earned him an automatic employment by the university upon graduation as Assistant Graduate Lecturer as […]

The book which was launched and presented to the public last week at the University’s auditorium attracted dignitaries and scholars as well as politicians who showered encomiums on the young author and eulogized him for his hard work which had earned him an automatic employment by the university upon graduation as Assistant Graduate Lecturer as announced by the university Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Mainoma at the occasion.
Auwal who hails from Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State had his early education at L.E.A. Phase I Primary School, Nyanya (AMAC), FCT from 1998 to 2004; Government Secondary School, Nyanya (AMAC), FCT in 2004. Between 2004 and 2007, Auwal attended Government College, Keffi; and was later transferred to Asasul Islam Secondary School, Keffi where he completed his secondary education between 2007 and 2010 before subsequently enrolling into the Nasarawa State University, Keffi in the 2010/2011 academic session.
Auwal said the motivation which made him   coming up with the idea for the book came from his mentors, namely ProfessorJ.D. Gwamna, the current Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Malam Muhammad S. Rabiu, Acting Head of Mass Communication Department who have done a lot of writings that had been published locally and internationally.
“During the  six-month strike by the ASUU between June and December 2013, I decided to write this book to utilize the time and opportunity I had. In fact, I will describe this strike period as a grace from the Almighty to guide me in my journey towards success in life. “Fortunately, Professor Gwamna; MalamRabiu; my former Head of Department, Professor E.S. Dandaura; and many others within and outside the university encouraged me by reading the manuscript to enhance its quality,”Auwal said.
“Their encouragement was what I needed most at that time to forge ahead with the journey I embarked on, which I am celebrating today,” an elated Auwal told Bookshelf.
“There are no words sufficient for me to thank them for their efforts, but their rewards will come from God and it’s my intention to sustain the habit of writing.In fact, I intend to keep this on, so as to pose challenges to my peers and other undergraduates within the university environment to work hard towards academic excellence.
“I think if the management should make this a competition among undergraduates by awarding scholarships and other education grants to those who engage in activities like this, it will boost our performance and improve the quality of knowledge imparted on us,”Auwalsaid.
The Head of Mass Communication Department, NSUK, MuhammedRabiusaid“the book is a show of commitment to the author’s studies and  his would-be profession of Journalism; a path he intends to follow – author and lecturer. By this effort, he inspires a sense of possibility, the possibility of success. Since success is defined as preparation meeting opportunity, we can say he is on a steady march to station success.
“Philosophers say your work is your worth. Accordingly, News Writing and Reporting clearly shows the author’s worth and will now affect how he is perceived and received. By this work, he has set himself as a standard among his classmates and other undergraduates,”Rabiu added
‘’As his class results show, he has always been among the top three. May be only his classmates and his lecturers knew this. But now, his diligence has brought him prominence and I want to believe that this book has forced other students in all the departments at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi to sit-up and take notice of him. The work has now singled him out from the crowd for the crown. I think he is set to make a great mark in Journalism and in the world,’’ the lecturer said.
Perhaps, Auwal’s past academic achievements at the University was a sign of many things to come his way. He won a  special recognition award as the most outstanding student during his 2012/2013 Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at the NTA International, , Abuja in addition to self-trainings in Computer Appreciation, Desktop Publishing, Computer Engineering/Maintenance, Website Design and ICT in general. His current departmental result shows a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.94 which is a Second class upper degree.
Auwal who  loves reading, writing and travelling, said “there are other researches I am undergoing, which by the grace of God, will be ready for publication before this year runs out and the culture shall be sustained and continued insha-Allah.’’