UNIMAID Law Student Clinches Top Prize at Campus Journalism Awards 2025
Usman Bashir Abubakar, a law student from the University of Maiduguri, has been crowned the overall Campus Journalist of the Year at the 7th annual Campus Journalism Awards held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
Abubakar triumphed over competitors from across Nigeria after excelling in an article writing competition and competitive public speaking during the grand finale, which was assessed by an independent jury.
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) emerged as the most decorated institution at the event, sweeping five categories. Winners included Bello Saifnasr Ajibade for Photojournalism, Muhammad Habibat Sani for Editor, Mashood Motola Muheeb for Features, Umar Maryam Ayomide for Sports, and Raheem Anifa for Gender Reporting.
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and Kwara State University (KWASU) each secured two awards. OAU’s Association of Campus Journalists received the Press Club Award, while Adetunji Oluwafemi won in News Reporting. KWASU’s winners were Olusola Oyedele Oladeji for Book (Author) and Oyerinde Najeebat Oyewumi for Broadcasting.
Other distinguished winners from tertiary institutions nationwide included Fatima Musa Muhammad of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria for Upcoming Writer, Lukman Abdulmalik of Bayero University Kano for Investigative Journalism, and Sale Rusulana Shehu of Borno State University for the Syndicate Category.
Additional laureates were Iretomiwa Balogun of the University of Lagos for Fact Check, Umar Rabi Ummi of Al-Hikmah University Ilorin for Social Media, and Egungwu Chukwuka Benjamin of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo for Entertainment Writing.
Special recognition went to Ubel Albert Ekanem of Baze University, who received the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Award for Promoting National Integration. Fatima Garba of MAAUN Kano and PR interns from NILE University Abuja were named Young Communicators of the Year for 2024 and 2025.
Platform Evolves into National Movement
Speaking at the event, convener Gidado Yushau Shuaib described the Campus Journalism Awards as a national movement driven by young people committed to truth, accountability, and transformational storytelling. He revealed that the platform has grown to encompass over 3,000 campus journalists from more than 100 tertiary institutions since its launch in 2018.
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The 2025 edition attracted approximately 400 submissions from over 80 institutions, bringing the total number of entries since inception to more than 2,500. “You are the heartbeat of this movement,” Shuaib told participants, praising young reporters who “use their pens and cameras to challenge power and rewrite the story of this nation.”
Beyond the awards ceremony, the initiative has expanded to include the Campus Journalism Dialogue, introduced in 2019 at Bayero University, Kano. The dialogue evolved into the online #CJDChat series, which has generated over 1,000 engagements and 100,000 impressions.
Shuaib announced a new capacity-building program targeting staff of government and non-governmental organizations, focusing on media literacy, strategic communication, and artificial intelligence. “This is our contribution to preparing Nigeria for the realities of the digital age,” he said.
The theme of the award ceremony was “AI and the Future of Journalism” which was delivered by PRNigeria publisher, Yushau A. Shuaib.
The Campus Journalism Awards initiative drew commendations from dignitaries including Mrs. Mufeeda Hussaini, representing the Minister of State for Education; Voice of Nigeria Director General Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace; News Agency of Nigeria Managing Director Alhaji Ali M. Ali; and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre Executive Director Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani.
Amnesty International Country Director Isa Sanusi, Nigeria Customs Service Spokesperson DCC Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, and News Central TV Managing Director Kayode Akintemi pledged continued support for the initiative.
Other distinguished guests included Brigadier General S.K. Usman, former Army spokesperson; Azubuike Ishiekwene, Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP Newspapers; Professor Sule Yau Sule, Chairman of Image Merchants; and representatives from NOA, NIPR, and NFIU.
Shuaib acknowledged sponsors and partners, including CISLAC, Amnesty International, Voice of Nigeria, NOA, NEMA, the MacArthur Foundation, TETFUND, NAN, Buffer Zone Initiative, CEOS Network Africa, and Cutting Edge Communications.
“When we support their creativity and protect the space for them to thrive, we secure a stronger, more united, and more prosperous Nigeria,” Shuaib concluded, reaffirming the vital role of young journalists in strengthening the nation’s democracy.
The Campus Journalism Awards continues to serve as a vital platform for nurturing the next generation of Nigerian communicators in an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping the media landscape.
By PRNigeria
