By: Covenant Odedele
On a night set aside to celebrate outstanding campus journalists in the University of Ibadan, members of Indy Press stole the show, carting home the highest number of individual prizes.
The dinner/award night, which took place at the Abdulsalam Abubakar PG Hall on Saturday, 23rd of October, 2021, which also marked the end of the 33rd administration of the Union of Campus Journalists, UI.
Indy Press Outgoing Editor-in-Chief, Theophilus Femi Alawonde, winner of the JCIUI Fifteen Outstanding Persons Award in journalism category Journalism, was also awarded the overall best campus journalist in the institution and also the best graduating Editor-in-Chief.
Abdulrahman Adebayo, another member of Indy Press also bagged two awards at the event. Abdulrahman, a first year student of Political Science was named the Best Features Writer and Most Promising Campus Journalist in the institution. By the same token, Williams Owoeye and Precious Akinmoyeje were also named the Best Satirical Writer and Best Political Writer, respectively. Toluwalope Ayeye, one of the two female members of IndyPress, emerged runner-up in the J6 Award for the best female campus journalist.
“I feel happy and honoured to have the UCJUI award for the best campus journalist and the best graduating Editor-in-Chief,” Theophilus began while speaking with this reporter on Sunday night. He explained that the awards were a testament that his contributions to campus journalism didn’t go unnoticed. “These awards are proofs of what I have contributed to campus journalism. I feel honoured to have won these awards,” he added.
Aside eventual winners, various Indy Press members also made it to the final list of the top three campus journalists in various categories. John Dare Okafor, Best Satirical Writer and Best Investigative Reporter; Akorede Abdulabeeb, Best Features Writer; Theophilus Alawode, Most supportive Campus Journalist; Williams Owoeye, Best Health Writer.
