By: Ambali Olayinka
The University of Ibadan’s Union of Campus Journalists (UCJUI) held its 36th induction ceremony in conjunction with the inaugural Global Campus Journalism Summit on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
According to the UCJ Editor-in-chief, Tijani Kabir, one hundred and sixty new members were inducted.
The event, which took place at the KAAF Auditorium in the Department of Human Nutrition, featured distinguished speakers, alumni, and representatives from affiliated journalism unions across Nigeria.
Notable personalities at the event include Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Mrs. Oluwabunmi Ishola, a journalist at The Nigerian Tribune; Mr. Olamide Abbey, sports journalist and founder of MIAS; Honourable Adeniyi Ismail; and Rahma Jimoh, a tech, health, and climate journalist at Social Voices.
Other notable figures included Mrs. Seyi Awojulugbe, investigations journalist at Agence France-Presse (AFP), Lagos Bureau, Dr Babatunde Ojegbuyi, Mr Sunday Oguntola, Olamide Teju Freelance/Broadcast Journalist Weddings and Ayeye Digest, and representatives from campus journalism unions such as ACJOAU, UCJUNILORIN, among others.
In her opening remarks, the UCJUI President, Tarre Elizabeth Tosanwunmi welcomed the inductees, guests, and attendees to the gathering. She emphasized the significance of the summit as a platform for growth, exposition and networking.
The first keynote address, delivered by an alumnus, Mrs. Oluwabunmi Ishola of The Nigerian Tribune, focused on balancing campus journalism with academics.
Drawing from her own experiences as a former campus journalist with AFAS Press, UI, she advised inductees to prioritize their studies while remaining unapologetically bold and credible in their reporting. She urged campus journalists to avoid political affiliations and adopt a careful yet fearless approach to publishing truthful and impactful articles.
Speaking on “The Future of Journalism in Nigeria, Press censorship information overload and the missing perspective ” the last keynote speaker, Mrs. Seyi Awojulugbe (standing in for Mr. Simon Kolawole, founder and CEO of The Cable), addressed key issues such as press censorship, information overload, and the role of social media.
She noted that while social media poses challenges, it also offers opportunities to innovate, improve fact-checking, and raise journalism standards. She encouraged attendees to embrace these tools, remain adaptable.
“Be the best at whatever niche you’ve chosen to display your skills but of course, you have to bear it at the back of your mind that you must also exert extra efforts to go beyond what you’re being taught, because only those who go the extra mile that reach the very top in this profession”, she said.
The event also featured the unveiling of the second edition of Campulse magazine, proudly sponsored by Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy. The magazine, a product of the UCJUI Editorial crew, received financial support, advice and reviews from guests and alumni.
Several awards were presented to recognize outstanding performance and dedication; Martin Isaac Award for Best Inductee, ₦100,000 prize was awarded to Oluseun Fatope, selected from a pool of 38 applicants.
The UCJUI Editor-in-Chief, Tijani Abdulkabeer, noted that applicants selected needed to score above 55 in the induction exam to qualify for consideration.
Also, the “Most Energetic Inductee Award” with a cash prize of ₦150,000 was presented to the recipient.
For the Sunday Oguntola Essay Competition, the 4th edition of this competition saw Adeyemo Mercy from Law Press emerged as the winner, while Oludare Olufunmilola and Sekinah Kareem were awarded first and second runner-up positions, respectively.
Representatives of various campus journalism associations across Nigeria also delivered goodwill messages, in a bid to strengthen the collaboration and unity between the sister unions.
The event also included two plenary sessions, which featured insightful discussions on topics such as public relations (PR), propaganda, the press, as well as journalism in the digital age.
