ACJOAU Holds Induction for New Members, Alumni Grace Event

Orisatoye Aminat, Edun Precious

The Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University has on Saturday held the Induction ceremony to welcome its recently registered members to the Association. Earlier, the association had held an examination for the inductees with the condition that only those get above expectations will be inducted.

The induction ceremony which was held at the Social Science lecture theater, Faculty of Social Science, had in attendance, the President of the association, Gbolahan Latinwo, and other executive members of the association, the inductees, and other members of the association. Also present were the immediate past President of ACJOAU, Faith Alofe, an Alumnus of the Association and the Southern Operations Editor of HumAngle Media, Adejumo Kabir, a correspondent of Daily Champion, Blessing Akorowosi, among others.

In his welcome address, ACJ OAU President, Latinwo Gbolahan stated to the new inductees, the benefits they will get from joining the association. The inductees were encouraged by the President to embrace their roles as campus journalists and to strive for excellence in their reporting. He said, ‘ACJOAU is set to nurture the future media leaders and Journalism.’ He further added that challenges birth growth and changes. 

Faith Alofe, the immediate past president of ACJOAU, stated how much Campus Journalism is a basis of growth in Journalism as campus Journalism provides an edge to how life looks like beyond the campus.

While speaking, Blessing Akorowosi, an Osun correspondent of Daily Champion, who was one of the keynote speakers spoke about how Campus Journalism is the basic foundation of Journalism and gave practical examples of how the inductees can nurture Journalism and use it to produce future media leaders. She said, ‘We should find out our niche in journalism, we can explore other sectors.’ She also noted that Journalism cannot be done individually as it is wide, encouraging the inductees to get people they can work alongside when practicing Journalism.

Speaking on sensitive reporting like suicide, trauma, gender gender-based violence, she advised the inductee to minimize the way they paint the picture of a story and to be ethical in their reporting. She stated ‘If you are reporting a minor below 18, you don't have to expose them. A survivor is not a victim. Don't say a person committed suicide.'

Adejumo Kabir, an alumnus of the University, and of the Association also spoke on the benefit of being a campus journalist and practicing it on campus. He reiterated a common statement among people and compared it with what Journalism means. He said, “Journalism is not about ‘somebody said’, but it is about investigating the real matter of an event”

A digital and data journalist, Yusuf Akinpelu, while speaking noted that being a Journalist is also a guardian and a bearer of truth, he noted that Journalists are watchdogs of society. He further encouraged the inductees to be motivated and moved to write on anything, as this will help them have more experience.

Three of the inductees were awarded prizes for their performance during the examination. 1st position was awarded to Oguntade Adedoyin, who was given a cash prize alongside his certificate. While Ogunlade David and Ogunlumade Favour won the second and third positions respectively.