…as OOU, UI Students excel at National Wire’s Campus Business Journalism Awards
“Our website is strong on financial reporting, and we intend to raise fresh reporters into that beat from the campuses,” Dayo Emmanuel, Chairman of the Campus Business Journalism Awards and News Editor of National Wire has said.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Emmanuel outlined the vision behind the initiative, emphasising the importance of encouraging campus journalists to delve into business reporting.
“We decided to encourage campus journalists who are already into business reporting, so we issued a call for entries to identify them.
“Initially, we weren’t expecting exceptional reports, and some brands worried we might not receive any entries because campus journalists typically don’t focus on business stories. However, we were determined to start somewhere,” Emmanuel explained.
The former writer at Newswatch Times, Emmanuel acknowledged the support of Manifold Media and Tayo Olanipekun, the primary sponsors, and expressed optimism that the initiative would inspire campus journalists to explore financial journalism more deeply.
The event celebrated emerging talent in business reporting, with winners selected from two highly competitive categories. In the Best Business Feature category, Olamide Ayoade, a Mass Communication student from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), secured the top spot with his article titled: “How OOU Student Entrepreneurs Leverage Tech for Career Advancement,” previously published on Campus Mirror.
Sonaike Peter Omotola from the University of Ibadan (UI) claimed second place, while Tolulope Ayeye, also from UI, took the third position.
Indy Press Organisation was named *Best Campus Journal of the Year 2024, solidifying its reputation as the leading campus magazine.
Championing Niche Specialization
Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Development Network (MCDN), praised the initiative for its focus on business reporting among young journalists. “This is commendable because it focuses on the next generation of journalists,” he stated, emphasising the importance of niche specialisation.
Friday Ekeoba, General Editor of National Wire and former Business Editor at Daily Newswatch, highlighted the significance of specialisation in journalism, particularly in business reporting, to stand out in the competitive media landscape.
Drawing from his extensive experience in financial journalism, Ekeoba urged campus journalists to hone their skills in this field, asserting,
“The art of business reporting is as serious as business itself,” the erstwhile business writer at Tribune newspaper and Daily Newswatch, Ekeoba said.
Inspiring Future Financial Journalists
Victor Emeruwa, Director of Strategy at Manifold Media, praised the initiative for strategically targeting the next generation of reporters.
He encouraged the winners to pursue careers in financial journalism, noting,
“Many young people want to look into politics because that is what can easily trend, but fantastic opportunities exist in the business desk,” Emeruwa said.
Similarly, Muyiwa Akíntunde, Editor of Breezy News Nigeria, highlighted the initiative’s potential to nurture future journalists while Ugonma Cokey, Director of Training at the Voice of Nigeria, noted its role in equipping campus journalists for the industry.
“This is unique because it shows campus journalists the need for business reporting, positioning them a step ahead when they join the industry,” she observed.
Sanmi Falobi, Program Manager of the International Press Centre (IPC), urged the organizers to sustain the initiative, emphasizing resilience and the importance of consistency.
“You must not relent and must not despise the days of small beginnings. Many of us look back at projects that started as dreams and are now big,” he encouraged.
A Milestone in Nurturing Future Business Reporters
Representing the panel of judges, Ishaya Ibrahim, Editor at The Niche newspaper, praised the contestants’ commitment and urged campus journalists to explore business reporting from a student’s perspective, noting the unique storytelling opportunities within the niche.
The event marked a significant milestone in nurturing future business reporters from Nigerian campuses, laying the foundation for the next generation of financial journalists.
National Wire, run daily by three journalists from different cohorts of the Bloomberg Media Initiative for Africa (BMIA), began publishing via nationalwire.com.ng in 2016. The website has remained strong in financial reporting, generating responses from Nigeria and beyond.
