ICONS Organization Emerges Winner of the 2026 ACJOAU Oratory Contest

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                Blessed Elemikan 

 On Saturday 25th April, the Association of Campus Journalist Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), held the 2026 edition of her annual oratory contest. The contest, which was billed to start by 10 am, was delayed by over half an hour due to the change of venue. 

In the light to commence the debate, Esther Olatimeyin, the ACJOAU President welcomes and addresses all participants that will be representing their various news agencies, while introducing the judges, Isaiah Adepoju and Thomas Ajake, for the oratory contest. 

Sequel to the introduction, a total of nine news agencies under ACJOAU, including the ICONS Organization, NASELS Communication Bureau(NCB), Infocus, OAU KILONSHELE, OAU PEEPS, NAPSS, GIN, and ASPOB, are all ready to participate in the contest.

The contest was divided into two phases; the first stage, where participants were given impromptu questions to debate on with a representative from each News agency, and the second stage where only the top five news agencies participated to debate on the same topic; the agenda setting power of the media: how far does it influence public opinion?


A total of nine participants from nine news agencies contested in the first round of the contest, with five of them progressing to the final round, while four of them were eliminated; the ICONS Organization, Infocus, NAPSSOAU, NCB and OAU kilonshele all advanced to the final round, while GIN, ASPOB, potential broadcasters and OAU peeps could not scale through the first round.
                   Ezekiel Ogunniyi & Adedoyin Onajobi 

  At the end of the oratory contest, the ICONS organisation, represented by Onajobi Adedoyin and Ezekiel Ogunniyi, emerged winners with a total of 67.5 points, Infocus news agency, represented by Anigilaje Kanyinsola and Abdulsalam Amotusalam, were first runner-up with 65.6 point, while NAPSS OAU clinched the second-runner up spot with 64.3 point, being represented by Bello Quam and Olulode Winifred. Similarly, NCB and OAU kilonshele end up with a total points of 61.3 and 59.3 respectively, to constitute the top five winners.
In an interview with the ICONS Organization correspondent, one of the award winners, Bello Quam, expressed his excitement about the contest. He said, “It is actually exciting because this is my first time trying. This contest is building me, and helping me to understand that an oratory contest is not just about winning, you have to understand how to speak well and maintain focus.”

The winning contestants from Icons organisation were also interviewed. Onajobi Adedoyin, the lead orator said, “To win is good, and it feels wonderful. I’m proud of myself and the other representative, Ezekiel, we did our best and God crowned it. We thank God." 

Responding to a question about how she felt while speaking, Adedoyin explained that there was indeed tension and fear because it was her first time participating in such a contest. "I wasn’t really expecting the first position.”

 Also, Ezekiel Ogunniyi, the main speaker for the Icons Organization in the first round and the co-speaker in the second round said “I’m so happy and surprised because I never saw it coming, but, as God would have it, we won. He lauded ACJOAU, saying the association always tries to inspire its members and help them to develop into the best versions of themselves.

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