By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

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, saw Kwara State Polytechnic scoring a total of 217 points to beat seven other institutions that competed.

The University of Ilorin came second with a total of 194 points, while Summit University, Offa scored 184 points to place third.

The Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Dr Kehinde Kadiri, said the reason for the programme was to provide a platform for the town and gown to merge together, adding that it was also organised for the experts in the advertising industry to come out and teach the University community on how advertising is being 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 being played in the real world and to give them the required knowledge they need before they get into the industry,” Dr 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, adding that they were taught advertising in school last season, so it was good to come out and compete with others whereby they tested their class in real time.

Another participant, Fatimah Bashir, from the Fountain University, Osogbo, said the event was eventful because it has widened her horizon, noting that 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 thereby believing that a lot had gone in the teaching of the students the basics of marketing communication.

“Looking at perfection is not really there but they have a good understanding and idea of what they are supposed to be doing,” Adefila added.

In appreciation of what the students were able to put up at the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of O2 Academy, Ozoemena Mbanefo, announced scholarship for two members of the winning school, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

The participating institutions in the competition include Thomas Adewumi University, Oko in Kwara state, Lens Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara state, Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, Fountain University, Osun state, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, and University of Ilorin.