Temitope
Kalejaiye

Temitope's short film, Almajiri is Begging, scooped up the Student award in the 2016 Amnesty Media Awards. In addition to working as a freelance filmmaker focusing on issues affecting women and children in Africa, she is also currently running two-hour after-school classes every weekday to educate Almajiri children in her hometown, Yola, Adamawa, where she filmed her award-winning documentary.

What is it about NTU that made you want to study here?

“The excellent reputation of the MA Broadcast Journalism course, and a mixture of practical and theoretical tuition by staff with actual industry experience and achievements. Notts TV also offered hands-on ‘working days’. In addition, the facilities, NTU community, social activities, and other Nigerians/Africans studying at NTU played a part in my decision.”

What route did you take into postgraduate study?

“I attained a BSc in Mass Communications in Nigeria before working for two years (after completing my national service) at a TV station in Nigeria, gaining news gathering, reporting and presenting experience.”

How did you find studying at NTU?

“I really appreciated the facilities, including the library, lecture theatres, and the newsroom and studio set-up. I found the academics extremely approachable, positive, helpful and supportive; without exception.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the social life here – from the NTU/Students’ Union activities to the social life with my fellow students. I found the course challenging and stimulating, and felt that it equipped me with the necessary skills to enter the workplace, or go on to further academic study.”

Can you tell us about your current role?

"Since graduating, I've worked at The Guardian newspaper and undertaken assignments for them and other media outlets in north-eastern Nigeria, but I am currently working as an Assistant Communications Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat. ComSec, as it is known, is the administrative arm for the whole of the Commonwealth, which consists of 53-member countries and 2.4 billion people.

"As part of the communications team, my role is to raise the profile of the Commonwealth in addition to increasing the Secretariat’s visibility on social media and our website. The invaluable training I received at NTU means I can do these tasks with confidence. Every day I write news stories and create short videos, all skills I was taught by my tutors at NTU.

"I am so grateful to my tutors for helping me to become a journalist because I have transferred those same skills to media and public relations. This grounding helps me to understand what newspapers and broadcasters want so that I can tailor a story to suit different outlets."

What are your favourite aspects of your current role?

"I was thrown in at the deep end when I started because I joined two days before the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting or CHOGM. It was held in London and the last time it was in the UK was 20 years ago. During that week, I was so lucky to see and hear world leaders, and of course Prince Harry and his bride-to-be. I am in the privileged position of being in the room when history is being made."

"I ended up writing a short article for the Commonwealth website to congratulate the now Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It was such an honour. So far, this is the article where I’ve received the most feedback. I received so many calls from friends and family in Nigeria."

Why would you recommend NTU and your course?

“I would highly recommend NTU and the MA Broadcast Journalism course; it has consistently and justifiably been recognised as one of the top media courses in the UK. The course is an excellent introduction to the world of journalism, and equips you with the skills needed to gain a foothold in the industry.

“The course provides the right blend of academic discipline and actual journalism coverage, with its own TV channel (Notts TV) to broadcast your work; all in the very affordable, comfortable, easily accessible, and fun setting of one of Britain’s oldest and most interesting cities.”

As an international student, what did you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

“I especially liked the fact that the city of Nottingham with all its amenities was right on the doorstep of NTU, and I was only minutes away from NTU’s facilities, and the city shops. I enjoyed the social scene – restaurants, bars, clubs, and how I was able to find friends through activities organised by NTU and the Students’ Union.”

What are your plans for the future?  

“Since returning from the US, I have started  two-hour after-school classes every weekday to educate Almajiri children in my hometown, Yola, Adamawa, where I filmed my documentary Almajiri is begging.

“As well as learning, the boys also receive a nutritious evening meal. During my Mandela Washington fellowship in the US at the presidential precinct in Virginia, I was able to get a partnership with WAGILABS. It’s a curriculum that teaches children how to be creative; finding innovative ways to solve problems in their community.

“I call it 'Temi's Safe Haven', a sanctuary for street kids where they are taught Mathematics, English and their civic duty. The donation has enabled me to buy teaching materials such as a whiteboard, textbooks, pens, and pencils. We have also given the classroom at a local school a fresh lick of paint, and created illustrations on the walls to provide a colourful and fun learning environment.”