Jamil Ismail Mabai is a typical example of hardwork pays. He started Cliqq Media from the scratch few years ago. He shouldered the now multimedia company in an environment where online journalism is seen as alien. He kept breaking odds to achieve his goals. How has the journey been so far and what has been the driving force? The Chief Executive Officer of Cliqq Media narrate to MB Mafara of Katsina Beat how the journey started as seen by Daily Episode
My name is Jamilu Ismaila Mabai, I was born in Katsina State, I am 34yrs old. I had my primary education in Katsina (Aunty Ramatu Nursery and Primary School). I attended Ulul Albab Science Secondary School Katsina, in fact, we were the pioneer students of the school. I proceeded to A.B.U Zaria in 2004 where I studied computer science. I am a trained digital Journalist from Thompson Foundation in the United States of America. Currently, I am Freelance Multimedia Journalist, Digital Communication Expert, Content Creator, Social Media Management Consultant and Founder of Cliqq Multimedia & Digital Concepts formerly Known as Cliqq Media Enterprise. I am also the first person who created the first ever online news outlet and online TV in Katsina State. I am single and I love storytelling.
What drew you into journalism?
I picked interest in Journalism due to my online activism for good governance back in 2013. With the Advent of social media and blogging platforms, I decided to leverage on that to start a new carrier in Journalism, though, I started as a blogger, after my Journalism certification I turned in to a Journalist. To me Journalism is the only profession that impacts the lives of people, I wanted to create a platform where people can have access to information regarding happenings around their environment with just a CLICK, that was how the name Cliqq was formed. Practicing Journalism gives me an unending happiness, not to talk of the impact it has when used positively.
What has been the influencing force?
The influencing factor to me has been my curiosity to not accept the norms, I always want to innovate new ways in written and visual storytelling. I like breaking the rules of doing things but a respecter of law. In a way I can say I disrupted the conventional way of practicing Journalism to digital journalism in Katsina State. It was tough, but my resolute to keep working hard towards improving my skills have been the most influencing factor to me.
Is online journalism rewarding?
Rewarding means different thing to different people, but to me, rewarding in journalism can be in three different ways. Either in form of money, influence and opportunities or journalistic success. With journalism, I am able to pay my bills, hire staff, upgrade my gadgets worth over a million Naira, rent an office, travel around enjoying my proceeds. Rewarding in terms of influence and opportunities I was able to meet personalities both in government and private sector around Nigeria which under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible to meet them. Rewarding in terms of success have been so many few of which are best blogger award by Pleasant library and book club, Promising Arewa media personality of the year 2017 by Arewa Achiever’s Magazine, African Icon Youth award in 2018, Iconic Youth Achiever in New Media Engagement by National Youth Council of Nigeria 2018. have worked with so many personalities from Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to Non Governmental organizations like Hellen Keller, Sight Savers, Uk Aid, and so many organizations. I have produced contents for Arise News, Reuters, with I have built a digital multimedia company that offers consultancy services to media Houses Like Wisal Hausa TV in Kano, Ultimate News in Abuja, Arewa Achiever’s Magazine in Abuja and currently about to begin one with Africa News24 which is also another milestone. Which I can’t wait to start. I have worked with global journalist like Stephanie Busari of CNN Africa. So online journalism has been amazing and massively rewarding.
What have been the challenges so far?
Cliqq Media’s challenge so far is skilled employable manpower. Digital Media requires multitalented people to run the business. For instance, I am excellently good with handling Cameras, I can edit, write beautifully, record voiceover narration and so many things. To have employable prospects is the challenge here in Katsina, so much unemployed people with no employable skills. But we hope to overcome that soon.
Where do you see online journalism in Katsina in the next five years?
In the next five years conventional media outlets will cease to exist, if they manage to, they will be running at lost. Online Digital Journalism is the future, information is consumed faster on minute bases. So in the next Five years, Online Journalism will be more powerful, more resilient, more effective and impactful with amazing contents.
Any word of advice to the younger ones?
My advice to young ones goes straight to their parents, empower your children with digital skills, because the future belong to Digitally skilled people, life success in whatever filled of life will be determined by how skilled one is digitally, from e-commerce, to E-learning, to digital currency and above all, an unlimited digital media environment where only the skilled will be valuable.
Lastly, Don’t be afraid to invent new ways of doing things even when it breaks the rules not law. Rules are constantly changed by people, so change the rules to accommodate your crazy inventions.
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