The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has encouraged young journalists to embrace endurance, discipline, and humility in their careers, reminding them that journalism is “not a sprint race, but a long-distance journey.”
He urged upcoming reporters to remain focused on their passion and to keep faith in the country, stressing that believing in Nigeria is the first step towards shaping its future.
Mallam Ndace delivered the message at the 7th Annual Campus Journalism Awards (CJA), held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Convener of the Awards, Gidado Yushau Shuaib, described the initiative as a national movement driven by young people committed to truth, accountability and transformational storytelling. He revealed that the platform has accommodated more than 3,000 campus journalists from over 100 tertiary institutions since its inception in 2018.
The 2025 edition attracted around 400 submissions from over 80 institutions, bringing total entries since inception to more than 2,500. “You are the heartbeat of this movement,” Shuaib told participants, commending young reporters who “use their pens and cameras to challenge power and rewrite the story of this nation.”
The initiative has since expanded to include the Campus Journalism Dialogue, introduced in 2019 at Bayero University, Kano.
Shuaib also announced a new capacity-building programme for staff of government and non-governmental organisations, with a focus on media literacy, strategic communication and artificial intelligence. “This is our contribution to preparing Nigeria for the realities of the digital age,” he said.
Delivering an address on the event’s theme, “AI and the Future of Journalism”, PRNigeria publisher, Yushau A. Shuaib, affirmed the critical role of young journalists in strengthening democracy. “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.
Representing the Minister of State for Education, Mrs Mufeeda Hussaini said the Minister, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, emphasised the importance of nurturing young talent. She noted that a child’s journey is often best understood through the eyes of those who support them, and described the gathering as a celebration of powerful stories of courage, resilience, curiosity and achievement.
A law student from the University of Maiduguri, Usman Bashir Abubakar, emerged as the overall Campus Journalist of the Year after excelling in article writing and public speaking during the grand finale, assessed by an independent jury.
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) was the most decorated institution, winning five categories. Recipients included Bello Saifnasr Ajibade (Photojournalism), Muhammad Habibat Sani (Editor), Mashood Motola Muheeb (Features), Umar Maryam Ayomide (Sports), and Raheem Anifa (Gender Reporting).
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and Kwara State University (KWASU) each won two awards. OAU’s Association of Campus Journalists claimed the Press Club Award, while Adetunji Oluwafemi won for News Reporting. KWASU winners were Olusola Oyedele Oladeji (Book Author) and Oyerinde Najeebat Oyewumi (broadcasting).
Other national awardees included Fatima Musa Muhammad of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (Upcoming Writer), Lukman Abdulmalik of Bayero University Kano (Investigative Journalism), and Sale Rusulana Shehu of Borno State University (Syndicate Category).
Additional laureates were Iretomiwa Balogun of the University of Lagos (Fact-Check), Umar Rabi Ummi of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin (Social Media), and Egungwu Chukwuka Benjamin of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo (Entertainment Writing).
Special recognition went to Ubel Albert Ekanem of Baze University, who received the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Award for Promoting National Integration. Fatima Garba of MAAUN Kano and PR interns from NILE University, Abuja, were named Young Communicators of the Year for 2024 and 2025.
Shuaib acknowledged partners and sponsors, including CISLAC, Amnesty International, Voice of Nigeria, NOA, NEMA, the MacArthur Foundation, TETFUND, NAN, Buffer Zone Initiative, CEOS Network Africa and Cutting Edge Communications.
The CJA also drew commendations from dignitaries, including the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alhaji Ali M. Ali, and the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani.
Amnesty International Country Director, Isa Sanusi; Nigeria Customs Service Spokesperson, DCC Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada; and Managing Director of News Central TV, Kayode Akintemi, pledged continued support for the initiative.
Other distinguished guests included former Army Spokesperson Brigadier General S.K. Usman (rtd.); Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspapers Azubuike Ishiekwene; Chairman of Image Merchants Professor Sule Yau Sule; and representatives from NOA, NIPR and NFIU.