A student of the Mass Communication Department of Baze University, Ubel Albert Ekanem, has won the maiden Nigerian Identity Journalism Award at the 7th Campus Journalism Awards (CJA) held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The new category was introduced by Youths Digest in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) under its Nigerian Identity Project.
The award celebrates young journalists whose work promotes the core values of the National Values Charter (NVC): integrity, patriotism, unity, peace and social responsibility. It was presented by the Director-General of the NOA, Alhaji Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by the Director of Youth Engagement and Inclusion, Mrs Blessing Oyem.
Ekanem earned the honour with an article published in the Nigerian Tribune on 1 October 2025, titled “From Heritage to Hope: Nigeria’s Journey at 65”. The piece, which captured the spirit of the Nigerian identity, was selected from 39 finalists shortlisted for the debut category.
Youths Digest and the NOA explained that the award aims to inspire young journalists to advance value-driven storytelling and reinforce Nigeria’s shared identity through responsible media practice.
At the ceremony, Usman Bashir Abubakar, a law student from the University of Maiduguri, emerged as Overall Campus Journalist of the Year, following his outstanding performance in an article-writing competition and competitive public speaking assessed by an independent jury.
In his remarks, the Convener, Gidado Yushau Shuaib, described the awards as a national youth-driven movement dedicated to truth, accountability and transformative storytelling. He noted that the initiative has grown into a network of more than 3,000 campus journalists across over 100 tertiary institutions since its launch in 2018. The 2025 edition alone attracted nearly 400 entries from more than 80 institutions, bringing total submissions since inception to over 2,500.
“You are the heartbeat of this movement,” Shuaib told the finalists, commending the young reporters who continue to challenge power, uphold public interest journalism and reshape Nigeria’s narrative.
Over the years, the initiative has expanded beyond the awards to include the Campus Journalism Dialogue, introduced in 2019 at Bayero University Kano, and the online #CJDChat series, which has generated over 1,000 engagements and more than 100,000 impressions. The keynote address on “AI and the Future of Journalism” was delivered by PRNigeria Publisher, Yushau A. Shuaib.
The 2025 ceremony drew commendations from dignitaries, including representatives of the Minister of State for Education; the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace; the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Alhaji Ali M. Ali; the Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani; and the Registrar of Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi.
Other notable guests included Amnesty International Country Director Isa Sanusi; Nigeria Customs Service Spokesperson DCC Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada; Managing Director of News Central TV Kayode Akintemi; former Army spokesperson Brigadier General S. K. Usman (rtd); Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Azubuike Ishiekwene; AANI General Secretary Dr Khalifa Mohammed mni; Chairman of Image Merchants Professor Sule Yau Sule; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media Abdulaziz; as well as representatives from NOA, NIPR and NFIU.
Shuaib also appreciated sponsors and partners, including CISLAC, NNPC, Amnesty International, Voice of Nigeria, NOA, NEMA, the MacArthur Foundation, TETFund, NAN, Buffer Zone Initiative, CEOS Network Africa and Cutting Edge Communications.
“When we support their creativity and protect the space for them to thrive, we secure a stronger, more united and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said, reaffirming the pivotal role of young journalists in strengthening national development and deepening democracy.