By Jubril Olalekan
Once again, the Union of campus journalist, University of Ibadan, has yet executed her perennial tradition of inducting new and qualified members into the mother-body of all press organization in the institution. The ritual took place at the Trenchard Hall on the 18th of September, 2021, where a total of 79 students were inducted out of the 159 students that initially wrote the UCJUI exams. It was however a double-barrel event, apart from the induction ceremony, there was also the Famous Five Awards which was for various individuals who have excelled in their areas of specializations like politics, acadamics, journalism, etc
The event featured many big guns across different fields in Nigeria, the likes of Prof. Olanike Adeyemo who received the award for the best academic, Fisayo Soyombo who won the best journalist in the area of journalism; Dr Jubril Abdulmalik bagged the award for the best Humanitarian, while Senator Fatai Buhari won the best politician.
Decked in dazzling black and white attire, coupled with a prepossessing touch of purple tie/beret, the inductees were grin in excitement, they were overwhelmed and highly exhilarated by the sight they beheld. In light of this, our correspondent reached out to some of the inductees to hear what they have to say about the new pedestal they’ve chosen to tread. Some of the inductees the dep. Editor of Rockite Press, Miss Adedoja, Mr. Covenant Odedele, a member of Indy Press Organization; Daniel Oluborode, Chief Editor for the YUMSA pre-clinical Press and Mr. Echega Daniel from Indy Press Organization, among others.
Correspondent: What spurred you into joining the UCJ?
Miss Adedoja: I have been a Press man since 100l. But I was motivated in a seminar where the founder of UCJ, who was originally from Indy Press talked about how much campus journalism has helped him. There and then, I decided that I was going to become a campus journalist.
Mr. Covenant: Everything we do revolves around stories, and these stories need to be told and told correctly. This has always been my drive.
Mr. Ebube: I love words and I love to channel my creativity through words. I love to blend words together in passing my message across to people.
Mr. Oluborode: I’ve been a Press man before now but I feel there’s a need for me to do more. And I think UCJ will provide me with opportunities, experiences and in-depth mentorship.
Mr. Daniel: I’ve always had interest in writing. So, I see UCJ as a place where I can improve more and also network with others.
Correspondent: Many believe inductees from the Humanities and social sciences tend to be better off in the area of journalism than others, most especially those from the sciences. To you, is this a myth or a fact?
Mr. Oluborode: No, I do not believe that.
Mr. Ebube: A myth. Gone are the days when one has to be extremely focused on one path in life. This is the 21at century, a century that calls for diversification. We can learn different things in different ways, including journalism. So, I believe being in the sciences is not a barrier to good journalism.
Mr. Covenant: I don’t think so too. A typical example is Mr. Fisayo Soyombo, he studied Animal Science as an undergraduate, but eventually he’s doing far well in journalism more than any youth in Nigeria. And just like the theme of the induction ceremony, the outliers; we are to do different from the norm and convention.
Miss Adedoja: What you study in school has nothing to do with your success as a journalist. What it takes most of the time is the courage and the desire to tell the world the truth.
Correspondent: What are the likely challenges you think you could face as new inductees?
Miss Adedoja: To me, the main challenge will be pressure. Sometimes I hear of famous journalist now who did some investigative stories on campus while they were campus journalist. I wonder whether they don’t fear expulsion or feel the pressure of creating enemies for themselves.
Mr. Covenant: Doing journalism takes a lot of sacrifices. Balancing it with academics might be a deal though, but it is not impossible.
Mr. Ebube: My course is a very jealous course. So, the only challenge I think I might face is time-management.
Correspondent: Do you see yourself going into full-time journalism after school?
Miss Adedoja: Yes, I intend to practice journalism after school. I don’t want to limit myself. Because I feel there’s a lot explore, see, and discover.
Mr. Ebube: I might not become a full-time journalist in the future, but I’d definitely continue in the act of telling stories on one research or the other.
Mr. Covenant: Yes. My major goals have always been to dig out stories – stories that are untold.
Mr. Oluborode: I might not go into full-time journalism after school, the experience I get from the UCJ will help me in whatever field I find myself.
Mr. Daniel: Being part of the Indy Press has built my interest in journalism. For now, I’d like focus more on improving myself. So, if the opportunity of doing full-time journalist comes up after the school, why not….
Correspondent: Thank you for your time. And congratulations once again on your induction.
