Maiduguri Varsity Student Wins Campus Journalism Award

Usman Bashir Abubakar, a 300-level student of the University of Maiduguri, has emerged winner of the 2025 Campus Journalism Awards (CJA).

LEADERSHIP reports that the award, since its inception in 2018, has consistently recognised 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 over 350 submissions from more than 50 tertiary schools across the country.

The theme for this year’s award ceremony is: “AI and the future of 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 relationships.

“Some of us are here because we were mentored, and we are also mentoring younger generation. In life, we are all raw talent. Sometimes, some people know what you need more than yourself,” he said.

He challenged young journalists to empower themselves to combat fake news.

In his welcome address, the founder of CJA, Gidado Shuaib, said that what began as a modest dream has grown to the most significant 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.