By Fawaz Balogun

The Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan, held its 38th Induction Ceremony for new inductees at the Large Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Law, on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Delivering the welcome address, the 38th UCJ’UI President, Adebumowa Jesutomiwo, urged the newly inducted journalists to carry out their responsibilities with courage, discipline and a commitment to continuous learning.

She also encouraged them to cultivate the habit of reading widely, uphold courage and maintain professionalism in their journalistic practice.

“Maximise the platforms available for you by keeping the public informed and using journalism to make meaningful contributions to society,” she added.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the keynote speaker, Ibrahim Oredola, 29th President of UCJ’UI and co-founder of SkillNG, urged student journalists to remain active members of the university community, hold the institution accountable and constructively criticise those in positions of authority for their actions.

He stressed the power and responsibility that come with journalism while citing instances during his undergraduate days as a campus journalist.

“Sharing this story for you to know the kind of responsibility you have, the kind of power that you have, for you to also know the implication of that power. Because power, as is without limit, is very dangerous. So for you to know that, yes, you have the power, but you can’t just do anyhow you want,” he said.

Oredola also emphasised the need for campus journalists to take responsibility for their reports and the consequences of their journalistic practice, noting that not every true story necessarily makes it into the news.

He advised the inductees to look beyond the byline and be conscious of the reputation attached to their names, noting that their actions as journalists could have implications for their future, including the possibility of requiring an exit letter from the university.

“I also need to note that the fourth estate comes with a lot of responsibility. The kind of power that you have is the kind of power that can criticise the Vice-Chancellor, the dean of faculty, or faculty lecturers. You have that power but you also have responsibility. And that responsibility goes beyond your byline. That responsibility also means that you have to have a lot of discretion,” he said.

He further described UCJ’UI as an organisation with a rich tradition, noting that it had produced notable journalists over the years.

 

He added that membership of UCJ’UI does not necessarily mean that every member would become a journalist, but that the organisation helps members develop writing, critical-thinking and other skills that could prove valuable in their future careers.

Also present at the event were Michael Olatunbosun of Splash FM; Ibrahim Oredola, 29th President of UCJ’UI and co-founder of SkillNG; Oluwatosin Ologun, Head of Reportorial Desk at Agidigbo FM; Faith Alofe, Correspondent at Punch Newspaper; Edem Udofia, Reporter at FIJ; AbdulKabeer Tijani, an AI and Health Misinformation Researcher; and Olayide Soaga, a Digital Journalist at News Central.