By Oluwaferanmi Akinbobola
Union of Campus Journalists’ University of Ibadan (UCJ UI)’s Features Editor for the UCH, Peter Adeyemo, has emerged as a finalist in the 2025 Young Digest Campus Journalism Awards. He earned the nomination under the Sports Category for his story, “The Rise of Hall Football Leagues in the University of Ibadan.”
His story explores the growing popularity and cultural significance of hall-based football competitions within the institution.
Speaking in a brief phone interview with the UCJ, Adeyemo expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “I feel honoured to be considered a finalist for the award. It’s amazing to see campus stories get a national spotlight and that campus journalists are celebrated likewise,” he said.
Peter explained that the idea for his nominated story came from a casual conversation among fellow campus journalists. “It was one of those random discussions that registered the rise of hall football leagues in my head,” he recalled. He added that the absence of extensive reporting on UI’s long-standing hall league made the story even more compelling. “I thought it was a beautiful story to tell, seeing that there hasn’t been an extensive story on the only hall football league to have existed for many years. I’m super grateful to the voices that brought the story to life also.”
When asked to share his advice for young and upcoming campus journalists, Peter stressed the importance of purpose-driven storytelling. “Campus journalism thrives on an innate desire to tell stories, particularly standing for the truth regardless of the consequences,” he said. He urged aspiring reporters to prioritise fulfilment over accolades. “Every aspiring campus journalist needs to feel fulfilled when they tell these stories. That’s the most important reward. Once that is established, recognition comes easily. Write, and never stop writing.”
The Young Digest Campus Journalism Awards celebrate outstanding student journalists across Nigerian campuses, rewarding excellence, impact, and creativity in storytelling. Peter’s nomination places him among the standout emerging voices shaping the future of the country’s media landscape.
