The Association of Campus Journalists, OAU (ACJ-OAU) held its annual induction ceremony on Saturday, November 22, at Auditorium II, formally welcoming a new set of students into the association. The theme for the induction ceremony was: ‘The Pen as a Tool for Public Trust: Guarding Truth, Telling Stories, Building Bylines’.
The event marked the formal entry of new members into ACJ-OAU, reinforcing their responsibility to uphold the truth, strengthen public trust and contribute credible storytelling to campus journalism. This is one of the ways ACJ-OAU equip new members with the ethics and standards of journalism and prepares them for the responsibilities of truthful reporting and effective storytelling on campus.
Moreover, the theme of the ceremony reflects a totality of what is expected of campus journalists. Campus journalism in OAU helps put student leaders in check and make them accountable for their actions.
The induction began with a brief opening prayer by the General Secretary of the association, Ogunwale Matthew, followed by a quick introduction of the inductees. The President, Esther Olatimehin, gave the welcome address. She urged the new members to feel at home in the association as she officially welcomed them. The guest speakers were then introduced, Mr Enoch Oyedibu, an investigative journalist; Mr Boluwatife Akinyemi, a Senior reporter at Nigerian Tribune; and Miss Busola Ayodele, OAP, Great 94.5 FM.
The first speaker, Mr Boluwatife spoke on the responsibility journalists bear for maintaining public trust. He emphasised the need for young journalists to prioritise accuracy over speed, truth over sensationalism, objectivity and transparency over subjectivity and a willingness to correct errors rather than hide them.
Afterwards, Mr Enoch encouraged inductees to be extraordinary to build a strong byline. ‘To build bylines, one has to go the extra mile. Do what others will not do. Your byline is your digital asset’, he stated. He also mentioned that truth can be subjective, but the truth is objective, and it is the bedrock of journalism.
Additionally, Miss Busola prompted new members that they owe the public the truth. She noted that the audience relies on journalists and trusts their judgement, urging the inductees not to betray that confidence.
The formal induction followed, with the new members swearing the oath of commitment to uphold the ethics and standards of journalism. Certifications of induction were presented to the inductees, marking their official entry into the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU.
Finally, to recognise excellence, an award was presented to the highest scorer in the recruitment examination. The ceremony rounded off with a closing remark by the anchor, Adeyemo Adeola, after which inductees took group photographs.