The Federated Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, has taken journalism to the classroom, exposing students of CAC Comprehensive High School, Ado-Ekiti, to the realities, ethics and responsibilities of the profession.

The maiden edition of the chapel’s school sensitisation programme, themed “From Classroom to Newsroom: Preparing the Next Generation of Journalists,” brought journalism closer to students of the school’s Arts class through practical sessions, interactive lessons and live presentations.

Speaking on the initiative, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and member of the chapel, Comrade Sanya Atofarati, said the programme was designed to help students appreciate journalism beyond it being merely a career choice.

According to him, journalism is a profession with a significant responsibility to keep the public informed and contribute meaningfully to the development of society.

The school Principal, Mrs. Modupe Apata, commended the NUJ chapel for taking the initiative to the school, saying the programme had given the students a clearer understanding of the role of the press.

She assured the chapel that the school remained open to further collaborations and engagements that would benefit the students.

Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, the Senior Prefect, Tope Oluwaseun Favour, thanked the organisers, saying the programme had broadened the students’ understanding of journalism and its core values.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the chapel, Comrade Banke Fajuyi, urged the students to be wary of unverified information circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

She stressed that journalism is not simply about seeing a story online and sharing it, but involves verifying information, checking the credibility of sources and establishing the accuracy of a report before publication or circulation.

The students also had a taste of practical journalism as they participated in news casting, while members of the chapel staged live presentations that gave them a closer and more realistic experience of radio broadcasting.

The event also featured the presentation of educational materials to the school by the chapel’s Secretary and Head of Content at AYOBA FM, Comrade Caleb Obisesan, on behalf of the executives.

The donated items included a wall clock, literature textbooks and branded pens for the students.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the connection between classroom learning and professional journalism, while inspiring young people to embrace responsible journalism, ethical reporting and the power of credible information in shaping society.