By Owobu Maureen

The Association of Campus Journalists, University of Benin (ACJ UNIBEN) held its annual induction ceremony yesterday, on Saturday, 22nd July 2023. The event was organised to warmly welcome and introduce newly recruited members to the esteemed association.

The ceremony commenced with an opening prayer, led by a distinguished guest, setting a solemn tone for the proceedings. Subsequently, the Director of Welfare, CJ Elizabeth Ikegima, introduced the executives to the attendees.

In his speech, the Secretary General, CJ Ebedi Jeremiah, expressed the association’s delight in the team’s outstanding performance, having written over 65 reports since their last meeting on 24th June 2023. He emphasised the primary objectives of the ACJ UNIBEN, which include disseminating vital information within the campus community and conducting investigative journalism.

Furthermore, CJ Jeremiah shed light on the concept of “Campus reporters,” an inclusive platform created by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, aiming to unite all campus journalists.

During the ceremony, CJ Jeremiah provided an overview of the association’s constitution and talked about the operational teams, including the information technology team, led by the PRO (Public Relations Officer), and member services team, among others.

The Vice President, AdeyinkTaiwo, delivered an enlightening speech, focusing on the crucial aspects of being a campus journalist. She emphasised the importance of upholding journalism ethics and principles, citing accuracy, news gathering and reporting, feature writing, interviewing techniques, and the need for sensitivity and empathy.

Continuing with valuable insights, the Financial Secretary, CJ Deborah Iniobong, outlined the rights of campus journalists, highlighting the dos and don’ts of the profession. She emphasised the freedom to access information, the right to conduct interviews, and the importance of not resorting to unfair methods to obtain news, photographs, or documents. Additionally, the Financial Secretary underscored the responsibility of campus journalists to defend truth, information, and criticism, while avoiding professional offences such as plagiarism.

The President of the ACJ UNIBEN, Odabi Collins, shared his personal experiences as a member of the association and took the opportunity to distribute ID cards to each new member. Following this, the induction oath was administered, and the association’s calendar was reviewed by the PRO, CJ Obende Deborah.

The ceremony concluded with an interactive session, during which attendees asked questions and provided suggestions to enhance the association’s activities. A closing prayer, led by the President, brought the induction event to a ceremonious end.

Support ACJ UNIBEN's goal of always bringing truth to light.

Excellent campus journalism requires financial support. Yet, it is this very journalism that contributes to an informed campus community, transparency in educational institutions, and an engaged student body. To continue offering free access to top-notch campus journalism, we invite you to consider making a modest contribution to this worthwhile endeavor. Your support for ACJ UNIBEN's campus journalism ensures its relevance and availability to all students, free of charge, fostering an informed and active campus community.

DONATE