Officials from The PUNCH Newspapers Limited paid a courtesy visit to the Management of Covenant University recently. Their visit was to negotiate a possible symbiotic relationship, leading to a possible partnership which would help to promote both parties’ interests.

While making his remarks at the event, the Head, Content Division, PUNCH Newspapers, Mr. Ademola Oni, made known the desire of the team to establish a partnership with the University which would enable the Newspaper to promote the University, while also benefiting from advertisement placements for University events and programmes.

He stated that regular adverts from the University would be a great way for the University to show support for the Newspaper House, and revealed that PUNCH was ready to ensure that event pictures and stories sent to them from the University’s platforms would always be published.

In his remarks at the event, the Registrar of Covenant University, Mr. Emmanuel Igban, welcomed the August visitors, describing their visit as timely, especially at a time when communication is evolving and requires all stakeholders to leverage on new developments to increase their levels of impact. He pointed out the need for the tenets of journalism, which incorporates the need to always balance the news by giving the other side of the story, to be fully upheld in order to drive credibility and trust; and commended PUNCH for joining the league of news outlets that allow people to have the benefit of "the other side of the story."

Congratulating PUNCH on its bid and efforts to rebrand the Newspaper, and for truly re-inventing the brand. He also explained that it is not peculiar to PUNCH, as Newspapers all over the world are evolving in the ways they source news and are now more dependent on partnerships to drive news sourcing.

The Registrar stated that the Covenant University brand is accepted globally to the extent that the National Universities Commission (NUC) uses the University as an example for other Universities coming up to emulate. Even the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rated Covenant University as the most compliant with its policies.

"Covenant University is not like any other University; our vision is unique. Our vision is to change the orientation of the global community towards Africa and to restore the lost glory of this nation. "Whatever we do at Covenant University is in line with best practices and compliant with the laws of the land," he said.

While making his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abiodun Adebayo, pointed out the need for news agencies to be conscious of the promotion of the right kind of news. He decried the rising level of negativity in the news, which has lately reached an all-time high and has become alarming, pointing out that it breeds toxicity in society and does not promote the right values.

He condemned the love for bad news that seems to be the bedrock of today’s media houses. All this is without taking cognisance of the way it affects the image of our nation. Making news must not just be viewed from the lens of "selling"; it must be considered holistically. We must intentionally learn to make news in order to sell ourselves, what we have accomplished, what we are doing well, and what we stand for, our values.

He enjoined PUNCH to help change the narrative by encouraging the proliferation of positive news publications, thereby helping to detoxify human society. We are partners. Let’s start well and see how we can run a symbiotic partnership and be able to change the narrative in our society. "We have a lot of great things happening in Covenant, amongst our students, researchers, and other areas, which needs to be heard," he added.

Also at the event were the Director, Financial Services, Covenant University, Pastor Kiki; and the Director, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Professor Tayo Osibanjo.

Others from PUNCH Newspapers include the Head, Corporate Services and Culture Division, Olufolakemi Gbemuotor; Manager, Advert, Mrs. Olukemi Ogungbemi; Senior Advert Executive, Taiwo Adunbi; and Senior Correspondent, Grace Edema.