University of Ilorin Pledges Support for Campus Journalism During CJID Training

The University of Ilorin has pledged to support campus journalism, stating that its management will not stifle the operation of campus journalists in the institution. 

This commitment came during a courtesy visit by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on Thursday, 6 June 2024.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Egbewole who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Olubunmi Omotosho, emphasised that the university will allow campus journalists to hold the management accountable.

Prof Omotosho said, “We need journalism to keep us on the narrow way, particularly when it is done positively, based on truth and solution-driven.”

Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Director of the Journalism Program at CJID, Busola Ajibola, urged the management not to regard the students’ practice as adversarial. 

Mrs Ajibola said, ”My hope is that the management will see their engagement as feedback from a generation that needs to tell their own stories and spotlight the issues that affect them.”

On behalf of the CJID, she presented some media publications to the University, including an handbook on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and copies of Premium Times publications.

One of the training faculty and the Editor of Dubawa, Kemi Busari, who was also present at the visit requested that the university management should respond to students’ requests for information to encourage truthful journalism. 

Also, present at the visit were the university’s Registrar,  Mansur Alfanla; the Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr Kehinde Kadiri; Southern Operations Lead, HumAngle, Kabir Adejumo and Iretomiwa Dele-Yusuff, Project Officer, Campus Reporter Project, CJID.

The visit came as the  CJID concluded a 4-day training for 60 Campus Journalists at the University of Ilorin which held from Monday, 4 June to Thursday, 6 June.