The Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin has emerged the champion of the 2023 University of Ilorin Mass Communication department’s Pitch-a-Ton competition.
The Pitch-A-Ton event, which took place on Wednesday at the University of Ilorin, had Kwara State Polytechnic scored 217 points to beat seven other institutions that competed.
The University of Ilorin came second have scored 194 points, while Summit University, Offa came third with 184 points.
The Head of Department of Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Kehinde Kadiri said the programme was to provide a platform for the town and gown to merge.
She said the competition was also organised for the experts in the advertising industry to come out and teach the university community on how the profession is been managed in the real world.
“One thing I have realised is that there is a difference between theory and practice. What we teach our students is different and there is a huge gap between the class and what is on the field.
“The platform is to provide a seamless transition for the students to understand how the game is been played in the real world and to give them the required knowledge they need before they get into the industry”, Kadiri said.
One of the participants, Eniola Oluwatomisin of the Department of Mass Communication, Lens Polytechnic, Offa, described the event as nice and overwhelming having competed with her colleagues from other institutions.
She said they taught them advertising in school last season, and it was therefore good to come out and compete with others whereby testing their class in real time.
Another participant, Fatimah Bashir from the Fountain University, Osogbo said the event was nice because it widened her horizon. She said the competition had better prepared them for future events because they have also learnt from others at the programme.
One of the jurors for the Pitch-A-Ton, Mrs. Biodun Adefila said she was impressed with what she saw at the programme and that a lot had gone into the teaching of the students on the basics of marketing communication.
“Looking at perfection is not really there, but they have a good understanding and idea of what they are supposing to be doing”, Adefila said.
In appreciation of what the students were able to put up at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of O2 Academy, Ozoemena Mbanefo announced a scholarship for two members of the winning school, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese; Lens Polytechnic, Offa; University of Ilorin; all in Kwara State; Redeemers University, Ede; and Fountain University, both in Osun State; Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State participated at the event.
