Publisher, NPCC Chieftain, Hope Orivri, Bags Unilag Ph.D

…As Kenneth Jukpor Dorn Its MSC Gown

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Publisher of OnePage Africa, Hope Afoke Orivr I has been conferred an academic doctorate degree at the prestigious University of Lagos (Unilag) having completed her course of academic rigours and research in Mass Communication, specializing in Communication for Development.

Dr Hope Afoke Orivri

Dr. Orivri, who is also the Chairperson, Media and Publicity Committee, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), was among the ten (10) Ph.D graduands from the Mass Communication department , and which featured at the university convocation ceremony held last on Thursday.

Similarly, Kenneth Jukpor, a maritime industry media practitioner and publisher of The News Diet newspaper, horned home the univeristy’s Masters Degree in Mass Communication. A buddying young tusk with a nose for noise and noted for his high, ethical professional standard, Ken as he is fondly called represents the generation of emerging media tigers, propelled by a high sense of the application of information technology.

As a Ph.D candidate in Unilag Hope won the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for doctorate students across African institutions organised by the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies (IADS) as part of activities to mark 2023 Nelson Mandela Week in partnership with the South African Consulate in Lagos.

Speaking with journalists at the Convocation ceremony, Orivri stated that her thesis “Utilisation of WASH Behaviour Change Messages among Mothers of Under-5 Children in Lagos Urban Slums” provided the most satisfaction in the doctorate degree programme.

Kenneth Jukpor

Her words: “With my research work, I joined the Network for Behavioural Research for Child Survival in Nigeria (NETBRECSIN) which is supported by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The body is interested in studies that have to do with the health of children, particularly those under 5 years. I was able to present my work to the panel and it was highly commended. I was advised to ensure that the solutions proffered get to affect the lives of people.

“I got special commendation because I was able to show that I had engagements with the respective communities. I had three different engagements with the communities in Abete, which is located in Ijora-Badiya; Maracana community in Ajegunle; and the Ago-Egun community in Ilaje-Bariga. The engagements in all these locations were for behavioural change as I was able to address mothers who have children under the age of 5.

“The satisfaction I got from the experience was to get feedback from some of these mothers affirming that they have seen positive changes in the health of their children after effecting my recommendations. Their children are no longer falling sick as they were before these engagements and the women have learnt to frequently wash their hands using soap. They have also learnt the need for home water governance by storing water in clean containers that have lids to prevent contamination. Also important is the need to use containers that have a thistle funnel rather than containers that children have to scoop by dipping their hands into the container to get water.”

Further explaining her sojourn in the crusade for Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) while pursuing the doctorate degree; she said: “I had to take courses being organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in WASH. This made me read further and ignited the desire to do further research in other areas in WASH including; proper and safe storage of water, washing of hands with soap and water, water treatment and sanitation. The diet for that WASH programme gave me a better understanding of sanitation.”

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairperson of the NPCC, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN, has congratulated Dr. Hope Orivri, stating that she wasn’t surprised at Orivri’s academic prowess culminating in Ph.D in Communication for Development at UNILAG.

Anishere said; “For several years I have known Dr. Hope as an excellent researcher and maritime media expert whose reports particularly on her famous Onepage Africa journal, is sine qua non to an academic treatise.

“I heartily congratulate her and celebrate her success whilst wishing her greater exploits as she continues to inspire others by her dedication and hard work towards the development of maritime journalism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole”, the maritime legal expert said.

Speaking on Kenneth Jukpor’s academic laurel, Mr. Ismail Aniemu, a media personality and motivational speaker said he was not surprised at all at the development, noting “Ken has been special with an eye for bigger things. Looking at his drive for reporting, l kew he would go places and may not rest until he reaches his dream space.

“I guess we are all proud of him as we are of Dr. Hope Oviri, who is part of us on this beat. Their achievements are the sort of things that makes my head swell, and l just want to wish both of them and our other colleagues who are still on the ladder climbing for additional degrees the best of luck, always.”