Gbolahan Latinwo
Two students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ajibade Abdullah Adewale and Latinwo Gbolahan have been shortlisted for the 2021 edition of the annual Campus Journalism Awards organized by News Digest. The duo, who are part of the newly sworn In executive members of the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University are currently serving as Chairman, Guild of Editors and Financial Secretary of the association respectively.
The announcement of the fourth edition of the award was contained in a statement released in Abuja by Youths Digest on News Digest online newspaper, on November 11, 2021 stating that 30 finalists were shortlisted to jostle for the 15 awards categories out of 304 entries.
The various categories of the awards are: “Edirin Jerry-Wesley Best Student in Broadcasting Award”, “Upcoming Writer”, “Entertainment Writer”, “Sports Writer”, “News Reporter”, “Gender Equality Reporter”, “Broadcaster” and “Photo-journalist”.
Others are: “Penclub”, “Author (Book)”, “Social Media Influencer”, “Investigative Journalist”, “Features Writer”, “Editor”, “Print Magazine”, and “Campus Journalist of the Year”.
According to the head of the screening committee, Alfred Olufemi, who is also an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University and 2018 CJA Campus Journalist of the year, he said the entries were graded based on merit but said some of those categories were very competitive.
“The quality of the entries received shows that journalism in the students’ space has gone beyond what we used to have in the past. Students did excellent reporting, investigations, and insightful features.”
“The awardees for the Campus Journalism Awards will be announced at Hotel 2020, Wuye District, Abuja on Saturday 11th December, 2021 by 3pm prompt,” he said.
While the Editor of Youths Digest, Gidado Shuaib, added that the finalists will be provided with accommodation, feeding, and stipends for local transport.
He also stated that Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director, International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) will be the keynote speaker while Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, Former Minister of Education will be the Chairman of the Occasion, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity will be the Special Guest of Honour, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and Chairman Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) will be the Chief Host.
The theme for the 2021 Campus Journalism Award (CJA) is “The Role of Media in Troubling Times”.