National Wire has initiated a groundbreaking program to nurture future financial journalists through its inaugural Campus Business Journalism Awards, with students from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and University of Ibadan (UI) emerging as top winners.
The event represented a key step in nurturing the next generation of business reporters from Nigerian campuses.
Dayo Emmanuel, Chairman of the Awards and News Editor of National Wire, emphasized the platform’s commitment to developing fresh financial reporters from Nigerian universities.
“Our website is strong on financial reporting, and we intend to raise fresh reporters into that beat from the campuses,” Mr Emmanuel stated.
The awards honored outstanding achievements in two competitive categories, motivating campus journalists to explore business reporting.
Olamide Ayoade from OOU clinched the top position in the Best Business Feature category with his article “How OOU Student Entrepreneurs Leverage Tech for Career Advancement,” published in Campus Mirror.
UI students Sonaike Peter Omotola and Tolulope Ayeye secured second and third positions respectively. The Indy Press Organisation of UI was named Best Campus Journal of the Year 2024.
Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Development Network (MCDN) and former editor at Punch and The Nation newspapers, praised the initiative’s focus on nurturing young journalists.
“This is commendable because it focuses on the next generation of journalists,” he said.
Friday Ekeoba, General Editor of National Wire and former business writer at Tribune newspaper and Daily Newswatch, emphasized the significance of specialization in financial journalism.
Mr Ekeoba noted that “the art of business reporting is as serious as business itself.”
Muyiwa Akíntunde, Editor of Breezy News Nigeria, praised the initiative’s potential to nurture future journalists. “This initiative is strategic in raising the next set of business reporters who understand the dynamics of financial journalism,” Akíntunde stated, highlighting the long-term impact on the Nigerian media landscape.
Ugonma Cokey, Director of Training at Voice of Nigeria, noted the initiative’s role in equipping campus journalists for the industry.
“This is unique because it shows campus journalists the need for business reporting, positioning them a step ahead when they join the industry,” she observed, emphasising the importance of early exposure to specialised reporting.
Victor Emeruwa, Director of Strategy at Manifold Media, praised the initiative’s strategic focus on the next generation of reporters, encouraging winners to consider careers in financial journalism.
He emphasised the wealth of opportunities in business reporting, often overlooked by young journalists who tend to gravitate towards political news.
Speaking on behalf of the award’s Panel of Judges, Ishaya Ibrahim, an Editor at The Niche newspaper, commended the contestants’ dedication and encouraged campus journalists to explore unique perspectives in business reporting.
The awards, sponsored by Manifold Media and Tayo Olanipekun, featured judges drawn from different cohorts of the Bloomberg Media Initiative for Africa (BMIA), bringing their expertise in financial reporting to the selection process.
National Wire is an online news platform in Nigeria with a strong focus on financial reporting. Established in 2016, the platform is committed to delivering credible business news and nurturing the next generation of financial journalists.