Usman Bashir Abubakar, a 300 level student of the University of Maiduguri Saturday emerged as top winner of the 2025 Campus Journalism Awards (CJA).
Abubakar emerged as the overall Campus Journalist of the Year after excelling in article writing and public speaking during the grand finale, assessed by an independent jury.
Blueprint reports that the award since its inception in 2018 has consistently recognized and celebrated excellence among Nigerian student journalists, with more than 2,500 entries recorded in its seven year history.
The 2025 edition, which marks the seventh in the series, received more than 350 submissions from over 50 higher institutions across the country.
The theme for this year’s award ceremony is: “AI and the future journalism.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Occasion, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, urged young Nigerians to build, value and sustain relationships. He described himself as a product of relationship.
“Some of us are here because we were mentored, and we are also mentioning younger generation.
“In life, we are all raw talent, sometimes there are people who know what you need more than yourself,” he said.
He challenged young journalists to empower themselves to be able to fight fake news.
“For you to be able challenge misinformation, disinformation and outright, you need to empower yourself.”
“It is not enough to be educated up to certain level, you must be knowledgeable about certain issues. For us to build a country that we all desire, we must empower ourselves.
“Journalism is a serious profession. Don’t use to malign anybody. Use can use it to position yourself. You can be critical but bring the country,” he said.
In his welcome address, the founder of CJA, Gidado Yushau Shuaib, said what began as a modest dream has grown into the largest convergence of student journalists in Nigeria and across African campuses.
“It is now a national movement powered by passion, purpose, and the belief that young voices can shape nations,” he said.
He described young journalists and finalists as the heartbeat of the movement.
“Your courage, curiosity, and commitment to truth brought us here. From over 100 tertiary institutions and a network of more than 3,000 campus journalists, you have used your pens and cameras to challenge power, spark conversations, and demand accountability. You are rewriting the story of this nation,” he said.
Blueprint reports that Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) was the most decorated institution, winning five categories. Recipients included Bello Saifnasr Ajibade (Photojournalism), Muhammad Habibat Sani (Editor), Mashood Motola Muheeb (Features), Umar Maryam Ayomide (Sports), and Raheem Anifa (Gender Reporting).
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and Kwara State University (KWASU) each won two awards. OAU’s Association of Campus Journalists claimed the Press Club Award, while Adetunji Oluwafemi won for News Reporting. KWASU winners were Olusola Oyedele Oladeji (Book Author) and Oyerinde Najeebat Oyewumi (broadcasting).
Other national awardees included Fatima Musa Muhammad of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (Upcoming Writer), Lukman Abdulmalik of Bayero University Kano (Investigative Journalism), and Sale Rusulana Shehu of Borno State University (Syndicate Category).
Additional laureates were Iretomiwa Balogun of the University of Lagos (Fact-Check), Umar Rabi Ummi of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin (Social Media), and Egungwu Chukwuka Benjamin of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo (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.
