“Stay Curious Because Curiosity Is How Cues Are Found,” Tribune Senior Reporter Charges ACJ Inductees

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            Samuel Faseyitan

The Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), on Saturday held the induction ceremony for its new members at Auditorium II (AUD II), with the theme “The Pen as a Tool for Public Trust: Guarding Truth, Telling Stories, and Building Bylines.”

The ceremony followed a rigorous recruitment examination conducted on Saturday, 15 November, in which nearly 90 students participated. Only 80 applicants passed, were shortlisted, and formally admitted into the association.

The event featured three guest speakers: Boluwatife Akinyemi, senior reporter and online news sub-editor at the Nigerian Tribune; Enoch Oyedibu, investigative journalist; and Bukola Ayodele (popularly known as Aunty B), an on-air personality at Great 94.5 FM.

Delivering the keynote address, Akinyemi emphasized truth, accuracy, and verification as the pillars of credible journalism. He urged the inductees to approach every story with diligence and to always verify information before publication.

“Stay curious because curiosity is how cues are found. Ask uncomfortable questions, conduct proper investigations, strive for objectivity, never write a story you are unsure about, and be assertive—this will save you a lot of stress,” he said. He further advised them to follow their conscience and avoid stories they cannot ethically defend or thoroughly understand.

Speaking on effective storytelling, investigative journalist Enoch Oyedibu encouraged the inductees to maintain objectivity and seek character-driven narratives that give depth to their reports. He highlighted the importance of verification and cross-referencing, recommending that journalists secure “at least three independent sources” for any event they cover.

He also stressed the need for personal development, consistent reading, and strong research habits. “The world awaits you and your pen. What will you write today? Your pen can build or break; determine what you want to build,” he added.

In her address, broadcaster Bukola Ayodele sensitized the inductees to the wide range of opportunities in the media industry, noting that growth often depends on building the right audience. She warned against disappointing one’s audience and underscored the importance of fact-checking, impactful storytelling, objectivity, and avoiding editorializing in straight news reporting.

The induction ceremony featured an interactive question-and-answer session, after which the new members were sworn in, pledging to uphold journalistic ethics and remain impartial in their practice. Certificates were subsequently presented to all inductees, with special recognition and prize given to the overall best candidate, Elemikan Blessed.

In an interview after the ceremony, new inductee Nwigwe Tochukwu expressed delight at joining the association, describing it as a platform that will help him further develop his journalism skills as a Broadcast Journalism undergraduate.

“The induction gave me a clear insight into my role as a campus journalist,” another inductee, Shittu Daniella, noted.

Top scorer in the recruitment examination, Elemikan Blessed, also shared his excitement, saying he did not expect to emerge as the best candidate but was grateful for the recognition and eager to contribute meaningfully to ACJOAU.


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