By Admin
Former Senator Christy Olujimi has called on governments and other stakeholders to pay greater attention to the development of journalism and the media, warning that any government that fails to nurture the profession may ultimately create problems for itself.
Olujimi made the declaration at the grand finale of the 2026 Students’ Week of the Ado-Ekiti Campus of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), where she was unveiled as the Patron of the institution’s Ado-Ekiti Campus and honoured for her contributions to leadership, broadcast journalism and national development.
“Any government that does not nurture journalism, any government that does not take care of the media, is in for trouble. If I were in charge, I would make sure that these people are well taken care of,” she said.
The former senator spoke against the backdrop of what she described as an impressive demonstration of organisation, creativity, academic excellence and professional promise by the students.
She said she had initially expected the event to be an ordinary student gathering but was pleasantly surprised by the scale, organisation and calibre of personalities at the ceremony.
Olujimi commended the IIJ Students’ Representative Council (SRC) for extending its recognition beyond the immediate school community to honour individuals who had made contributions to journalism, leadership, public service and societal development.
She expressed renewed optimism about the future of journalism in Nigeria, saying the quality of the students and emerging journalists she encountered at the event demonstrated that the profession still had a strong future.
“Our hopes are coming true at last,” she said, recalling earlier concerns about the future of journalism and expressing satisfaction that young people were still embracing the profession.
She also congratulated the students for combining leadership responsibilities with academic excellence, particularly the emergence of the IIJ SRC President, Comrade Toba Fatunla, and the Vice President, Oluwakemisola Folarin Olufunke, as overall best students in their respective academic categories.
Fatunla emerged the Overall Best Student in the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) categories, while Folarin Olufunke emerged Overall Best Student in the National Diploma (ND)/Higher National Diploma (HND) category.
According to her, the development was significant because the two students were not only occupying strategic leadership positions in the SRC but were also distinguished academically.
She particularly celebrated the emergence of a female student among the overall best performers, describing it as an encouraging indication of the capacity of young women to excel academically and in leadership.
The grand finale brought to a close a week-long programme organised by the IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus SRC under the theme, “Beyond Headlines: Knowledge, Creativity, Unity and Excellence.” The theme reflected the students’ deliberate effort to combine classroom learning with practical journalism, intellectual engagement, sportsmanship, leadership and professional networking. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) also reported that the programme was designed to expose students to practical experiences beyond classroom learning.
The activities began on Tuesday with a press conference which brought together IIJ students, lecturers, journalism practitioners and other stakeholders.
The second day featured a symposium and intellectual engagement involving lecturers, media practitioners, students and other invited guests. The session provided an opportunity for participants to examine the responsibilities of journalists in contemporary society, the importance of accuracy and professionalism, and the need for journalists to move beyond merely breaking news to providing verified, meaningful and socially relevant information.
The third day moved the celebration from the classroom to the football pitch as IIJ students confronted members of the NUJ in a novelty friendly match at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.
The match attracted journalists, academics, government representatives, media professionals, students, alumni and other supporters who gathered to cheer both teams.
The match was formally opened by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Adedayo Gold Adesola, who joined other dignitaries in commending the initiative and the spirit of unity it generated.
The Technical Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Sports Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Osetoba, was also present at the encounter.
The match produced an entertaining 1–1 draw, with the NUJ side taking the lead before the IIJ students fought back in the second half to equalise through a penalty.
Speaking after the encounter, the Technical Adviser commended both teams, describing the match as a balanced and successful encounter. She also praised the referee for his handling of the game, noting that the penalty awarded to IIJ was genuine.
She said football naturally produces different reactions, adding that the outcome of the match was part of the spirit of the game.
For the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, the encounter was a worthwhile engagement despite the draw.
Babatuyi described the match as an injury-free and memorable encounter but insisted that the NUJ side had demonstrated superior quality on the pitch.
He jokingly suggested that the NUJ would protest the result, maintaining that his team deserved victory.
He nevertheless acknowledged the importance of the match in strengthening the relationship between practising journalists and students of journalism.
The IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus Coordinator, Pastor Dare Daniels, described the encounter as a beautiful addition to the Student Week celebration.
According to him, the NUJ dominated the first half, but the IIJ students returned stronger in the second half and eventually earned the equaliser.
He noted that the 1–1 result reflected the competitive nature of the encounter and demonstrated that both sides possessed strength, skill and tactical ability.
Daniels said he expected the younger IIJ players to continue improving and expressed optimism that future encounters between the students and practising journalists would produce even more exciting moments.
Also speaking on the match, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, Technical Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Political Affairs, a prominent journalist and lecturer, described the encounter as a balanced contest.
Oguntayo commended the courage displayed by the IIJ students and celebrated the excitement, friendship and unity generated by the game.
He noted that beyond the result, the match provided an avenue for journalists, students, academics and government representatives to interact in an atmosphere of friendship.
The Director-General of the Ekiti State Homeland and Intelligence Agency, Asiwaju Oludotun Adetunberu, who is also Chairman of the IIJ Elders Forum, described the football match as a beautiful initiative capable of bringing people together.
Adetunberu said the excitement generated by the encounter demonstrated the unifying power of sports, while commending the IIJ team for responding strongly in the second half to secure a draw.
He described the match as a positive development in the relationship between the IIJ and the professional journalism community in Ekiti State.
The Chairman of the IIJ Alumni Association, Pastor Rotimi Feyisina, who spoke from the perspective of both an alumnus and former member of the NUJ, described the match as a memorable experience.
Feyisina said he found himself in an interesting position because of his connection with both the NUJ and IIJ, but expressed delight that the encounter ended in a 1–1 draw.
He described the football match as historic for IIJ, noting that the institution’s Student Week had created an opportunity for people who had not seen one another for a long time to reunite, laugh, interact and celebrate together.
According to him, the real victory was the friendship, reunion and camaraderie created by the occasion.
Veteran journalist and lecturer, Prince Shola Adetule, also commended the organisers, describing the initiative as commendable and capable of strengthening the bond between students and professionals in the journalism industry.
Other personalities, including Pastor Tunji Aribasoye and Dr. Buhari, Associate Professor at Ekiti State University, also commended the organisers and participants for the successful and professional conduct of the programme.
The Committee chairman of the Students’ week, Amb. Maxwell Olu-Ajayi appreciated God and the students for putting this event together, especially by setting a standard in the history of the institute.
The fourth and final day brought the week-long celebration to its grand climax with an elaborate Award and Dinner Night, attended by prominent government officials, journalists, academics, media professionals, students, alumni and other stakeholders.
The event provided another opportunity to celebrate excellence while recognising individuals whose contributions to journalism, governance, public administration, tourism, education, leadership and community development had made an impact.
Among the highlights of the ceremony was the decoration of Senator Christy Olujimi as the Patron of the IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus, alongside her recognition with an Award of Excellence.
Another major honouree was Dr. John Moyo Ekundayo, Special Adviser/Director-General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Ekiti State. The Ekiti State Government officially lists Dr. Ekundayo as the Special Adviser/Director-General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery.
The ceremony also recognised Lion Rotimi Ojomoyela, while Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of Tourism in Ekiti State, was honoured for his contributions to tourism development and public service.
Other distinguished recipients included Esq. Harrison Olaniyi Alonge and Otunba Samuel Olakunle Ogunlana, both recognised for their respective contributions and accomplishments.
The IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus Coordinator, Pastor Dare Daniels, was also honoured for his role in advancing the campus and supporting the students in achieving the objectives of the Student Week.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, was equally honoured, symbolising the growing relationship between the professional journalism body and the institution responsible for training future journalists.
The 2026 IIJ Student Week therefore ended as more than a conventional students’ celebration. From the opening press conference to the intellectual depth of the symposium, the excitement of the NUJ-IIJ football encounter and the glamour of the award and dinner ceremony, the programme provided a platform for students to demonstrate that journalism education goes beyond the classroom.
It also created a meeting point between generations of journalists — bringing together students, practising professionals, lecturers, alumni, government officials and media stakeholders in an atmosphere of learning, friendship, competition and celebration.
For an institution committed to training future journalists, the week offered a practical demonstration of its central message: that journalism requires not only the ability to report events, but also knowledge, creativity, unity, character, professionalism and excellence.
And as the curtain finally came down, the message from Senator Olujimi remained one of the strongest reflections of the celebration — that the future of journalism cannot be separated from the responsibility of society and government to recognise, support and nurture the profession.
The 2026 IIJ Student Week Awardees were: former Senator Christy Olujimi; Dr. John Moyo Ekundayo, Special Adviser/Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Ekiti State; Lion Rotimi Ojomoyela; Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of Tourism, Ekiti State; Esq. Harrison Olaniyi Alonge; Otunba Samuel Olakunle Ogunlana; Pastor Dare Daniels, IIJ Ado-Ekiti Campus Coordinator; and Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council.
