Nigerian journalists have been told to collaborate more with journalism training institutions to ensure that the theoretical and research aspects of the profession are properly rooted in journalism practice.

The call was made on Thursday by Dr Aniefiok Udoudo, Chairman, Journalism Educators Foundation (JEF), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), on a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers Council.

Udoudo, who led the Executive members of JEF in UNIPORT on the visit called for more symbiotic relationship between journalism teachers, practising journalists and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said that the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies at UNIPORT had been running a community radio station (Unique FM), broadcasting on 88.5 Frequency Modulation (FM).

He urged members of the NUJ to collaborate with the station’s management for better performance and service to Unique FM’s audience.

He further stated that JEF would on May 2 flag off a four-day conference on Reporting Politics in multi-Party System at UNIPORT.

He said the conference would create an opportunity for communication scholars and media practitioners to take stock of media performance during the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

Udoudo said the conference was also expected to help in strengthening the relationship between “the town and the gown’’ and develop synergy in research.

According to him the conference will incorporate a free workshop for practising journalists with facilitators drawn from the media and the academia.

He said that participants at the forum were expected to be equipped with relevant skills and modern techniques in the reportorial process, especially in reporting politics.

In his response, the NUJ, Rivers Council Chairman, Mr Stanley Job Stanley, urged journalism training institutions and Nigerian universities to ensure that they churn graduates that would become entrepreneurs than job seekers.

“Please fashion out a curricula that will make our graduates self-employed and be independent in whatever field of study they are engaged.

“We are ready to work with you in ways that will promote a symbiotic relationship in this profession.

“We can share our experiences in the field with students and we can immensely benefit from research. This would help in ensuring a proper marriage between theory with practice,’’ Stanley stated

Members of the JEF team on the visit included Prof. Christie Omego, Vice Chairman, Dr Clement Asadu, Auditor and Dr Titilayo Osuagwu, the group’s Treasurer.