CJA 2020: Highlights as final year BUK student emerge winner [PHOTOS]
NEWS DIGEST – Mohammad Dahiru Lawal, a final year student of Information and Media Studies at Bayero University Kano (BUK), emerged the Campus Journalist of the year at the just concluded Campus Journalism Award, CJA, event.
Dahiru, who also bagged the Best Features Writer Award (print), emerged winner of the coveted prize after beating competition from campus journalists from several top tier universities across the country.
The award, held on Saturday at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, conferred Outstanding Personality Award (Public Sector) on the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, as champion of open distance learning in Nigeria; his contributions to media education and his passion for youth empowerment, spanning many years.
Also honoured for Outstanding Personality (private sector) was Mr Edirin Jerry Wesley, Managing Director of the Nigerian Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN), in recognition of his laudable efforts, especially in the area of media development in Nigeria, while Mr. Abdullahi “Haruspice” Haruna got an honorary patron award.
Various winners of the Campus Journalism Awards categories are: Abiodun Jamiu – Features Writer (Online) of the year from Uthman Danfodio University; Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim – Syndicated Writer of the year from ABU Teaching Hospital; Stephen Enoch – Broadcaster of the year from Bayero University Kano; Ikulajolu Adesola [Echo Newspaper] – Editor (Online Newspaper) from Adekunle Ajasin University; Solomon Oladipupo [Unilag Sun] – Editor (Print Magazine) from University of Lagos; Udeobasi Blessing – News Reporter from University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Uthman Samad – Investigative Reporter from Obafemi Awolowo University Ife.
Other winners of the #CJA2020 award are Prince Innocent – Social Media Influencer from Federal University Utuoke; Ileyemi Mariam Omotoyosi – Photojournalist from Lagos State University; The News Digest Press – Pen club from Uthman Danfodio University Sokoto; Victoria Ifeolu – Book Author from the American University of Nigeria and Adeyinka Ademola Abdulrasheed – Development Reporter from Poly Ibadan.
Also recognised were: Kafilat Taiwo – Gender Equality from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta; Yusuf Mutiu – Sports Writer from University of Ilorin, and Mohammed Yakubu – Upcoming Writer – Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.
While handing the Campus Journalist of the Year his award, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) and Chairman of the occasion, said, “this award is evidence enough that if young people are mentored rightly, the country will have many productive minds that can contribute their best to the progress of the country.”
The CJA2020 Award, organized by Youths Digest Magazine, Publishers of News Digest Online Newspaper, is the third edition in the series.
Previous awardees are Mr. Alfred Olufemi, who was crowned the Campus Journalist of the Year in 2018 and Maryam Abdullahi, who won the 2019 edition of the award.
In this year’s edition, there were over 266 entries from about 50 Institutions across the country, with 30 finalists, 15 Awardees and an overall Campus Journalist of the year.
Reacting to his Award, Mohammed Dahiru Lawal revealed his surprise and excitement at winning despite the pool of competitive brains at this year’s entry. “This means a lot to me, it is an encouragement for me to do more and continue contributing to the field of Journalism beyond the spheres of the Campus.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Gidado Shuaib, the Executive Director of Youths Digest, Organizers of the Annual Campus Journalism Award and Dialogue, said that the CJA had become an indisputable platform that celebrates brilliant and upcoming creative mind in their ever developing Journalism field in Nigeria.
“This occasion affords us the opportunity to honour exceptional writing talents in our various campuses as they have continued to contribute their quota to National Development over the years,” he said.
The Panel of Judges made up various media experts: Barbara Okafor, representative of the Nigerian Customs Broadcasting Network; Hussaina Yakubu, public speaker; Jaafar Jaafar, Publisher of Daily Nigerian; Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, Founder PRNigeria and was chaired by veteran Journalist Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace.
Various finalists were screened through a five-minutes presentation. The best five were also screened through another one-minute presentation for the Campus Journalist of the year to emerge.
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Special Guest at the occasion were Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President and Mr Sunday Dare, Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, who were both ably represented.
Other special guests at the awards include Comrade Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director CISLAC; Professor Samaila Maude, representative of NOUN VC and Dean Post-Graduate Studies, National Open University; Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, Head Corporate Communication, SMEDAN; Mr Edirin Wesley, Managing Director, Nigerian Customs Broadcasting Network and Alhaji Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor the Nation Newspaper.
Also gracing the awards were Mr Niyi Akinsiju PRGuru and representative of Mallam Garba Shehu; Dr Bala Lau, Regional Manager, Bank of Industry Sokoto, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Ex-Niger CPS, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdullahi, Personal Assistant to NOUN VC, Masters of the ceremony, Mallam Abdullahi Haruna and Hussaina Yakubu, and Hassan Ridwhan, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Scholarship Board.
The CJA, an Annual event to celebrate outstanding Campus Journalist, is being supported by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigerian Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN), Image Merchant Promotions Limited (IMPR), Daily Nigerian, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), National Communication Commission (NCC), among others.
SEE PHOTOS FROM CJA WORKSHOP BELOW:
