Rabi Ummi Umar is a final-year student of Mass Communication at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. She works with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, among other titles. Rabi is an upcoming media professional who serves as a writer, presenter, reporter, and content developer.

Can you tell us about your journey leading up to this award?

Growing up, my late father was my biggest supporter, constantly encouraging me to pursue my dreams. It was as if he could see the potential in me and envision my future as a journalist – winning awards, broadcasting news, hosting shows, and achieving even more – largely due to my character and interests as a person.

Genuinely, his belief in me inspired me to work harder and pursue this career path. I owe a great debt of gratitude to him for instilling in me the passion and drive to succeed.

I must also acknowledge the significant role my mother has played in my life. She has been a constant source of support and guidance every step of the way, even after my father’s passing.

As a Mass Communication student, I have always been passionate about the field. My interest was further ignited when I commenced my first internship with The News Digest in 2023, an experience that allowed me to network with media professionals, improve my writing and reporting skills, and gain insight into the inner workings of the industry among an array of things.

My second internship with IMPR in 2024 was another milestone in the journey. In short, it was during this internship that I conceived the award-winning entry. Under the guidance of experienced editors, I pushed until my writing skills were refined, building upon earlier experiences.

Winning this award is a personal honor for me. It is evidence of the power of hard work, dedication, resilience I put in, and selfless guidance from those around me. The occasion of the award ceremony has left an indelible mark, reminding me that perseverance and the right support can yield remarkable results, leaving me eternally grateful.

This summarizes my journey for the Campus Journalism Award (CJA). I heard about in 2024, tired it out and here I am.

How has winning this award impacted your perspective or career aspirations?

Emerging as the year’s Syndicated Writer of the Year has made me want to do more. It has reinforced my belief that hard work does pay off.

I have always been big on ambition, and this achievement has only fueled my desire to strive for excellence in the profession. Every day, I challenge myself to improve because such recognition serves as an inspiration to others. I am currently looking into shaping my skills, learning more, and achieving bigger and better things. This is what the award has done for me.

How do you approach writing pieces that resonate with a wide audience?

Keen observation has been a great asset so, I try as much as possible to pay rapt attention to my environment and wherever I find myself listening to spoken and unspoken words. From such, ideas are drawn ideas.

Topical issues are also my go to areas, I feel like most times, my thinking and those of the people are in sync therefore I tailor my pieces towards them.

Thus, my pieces almost always resonate with my audience whenever I put up an article up there.

What strategies do you use to get your work published across multiple platforms?

Timeliness is an important part of it. Even as a profession, mass communication or journalism emphasizes dealing with information on time and this has been my practice.

I write on topical issues and also consider doing so when they are still on the front burner then, forward these articles to traditional and online media houses. I strongly believe my work interests them and this strategy has worked well as most of my articles are published widely.

Can you share an example of a piece that had a significant impact?

There are quite a few. The ones on ‘Men’s Mental Health’, ‘The Stigma Against Menstruating Women’, the one on the state of Nigeria titled ‘Is this Our Nigeria’ and of course ‘Dangote Refinery Rollout: What’s Next for Nigerians’ which won the award.

Those articles had a significant impact and resonated with a wide audience. This I can confirm due to feedback received after their publication.

Umar’s journey from a passionate Mass Communication student to the Syndicated Writer of the Year is a testament to her dedication, resilience, and the unwavering support of her family and mentors. Her ability to craft impactful stories on pressing issues, such as mental health, societal stigmas, and national development, has not only earned her recognition but also resonated deeply with a wide audience. With a nose for news which are timely and relevant topics, Umar continues to refine her craft, driven by her ambition to excel and inspire others in the media industry. As she looks to the future, her award serves as both a milestone and a motivator, propelling her toward even greater achievements in her burgeoning career. Umar’s story is a powerful reminder that with passion, hard work, and the right support, remarkable success is within reach.