By Didymus Joshua
The Junior Chamber International, University of Ibadan (JCIN UI), on Saturday, October 17, 2026, held its 27th press conference at the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Chamber to brief campus journalists on preparations for the Fifteen Outstanding Persons Award (FOPA), which will be merged with the organisation’s convention.
The conference, which began at 1:31 p.m., had representatives from campus press organisations, including Indy Press, Bello Press, ACLAS Press, Zik Press, Mellanby Press, NUESA Press, AFAS Press and so on, as well as the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ).
The FOPA is scheduled to hold on November 21, 2026, at the International School Ibadan (ISI) Multipurpose Hall under the theme, “Rethinking Leadership: Intellectual Leadership Beyond Conventional Systems in a Changing Nigeria.”
In his welcome address, the JCIN UI President, Lawal Adedolapo Quayyum, described the award as one of the organisation’s core projects aimed at recognising individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the University of Ibadan community.
He explained that the award would recognise 15 outstanding individuals, comprising 10 undergraduates and five members of the university’s alumni community.
Quayyum disclosed that the organisation had received over 1,500 responses and was currently conducting profile research on nominees. He added that individuals who meet the relevant criteria would receive letters requesting their curriculum vitae (CV), motivation letters and portfolios.
To broaden the nomination process and promote fairness, the organisation also plans to contact student leaders and university administrators for nominations, allowing it to reach a wider pool of potential awardees.
The award categories include faculty management, hall management, student leadership, entrepreneurship, journalism, academia, sports, selfless contribution, UI personality, public administration, media excellence, professional excellence, information technology and corporate governance.
According to the president, the selection process would be based on three components: voting, which accounts for 20 per cent of the final score; the panel session, which accounts for 40 per cent; and the motivation letter, which accounts for the remaining 40 per cent.
He further stated that the identities of the award recipients would remain undisclosed until the award ceremony. All nominees would receive free entry to the event, while press members might also be granted free access, subject to the availability of slots.
Addressing the question of sponsorship, Quayyum explained that funding for the event would come through collaborative efforts involving corporate organisations, alumni and other organisations with aligned interests.
Other officials who addressed the press conference were Joshua Samuel, Executive Vice-President (External); Adejare Oyebanjo, Executive Vice-President (Internal); Moronkeji Abisola, Director of FOPA; and Shobande Masturah, Co-Director of FOPA. The session was moderated by Omokhai Jeremiah, a member of the FOPA Directorate.
The press conference ended at 1:56 p.m., with Abisola delivering the closing remarks.
