The General Editor of National Wire, an online news publication, Mr. Friday Ekeoba, has emphasized the significance of business reporting, equating its seriousness to business itself. He urged campus journalists to sharpen their skills in this specialized field to stand out in the competitive media landscape.

Speaking at the award presentation for the maiden edition of the Campus Business Journalism Awards, Ekeoba underscored the importance of specialisation in journalism, particularly in business reporting. Drawing from his vast experience covering finance for national dailies like Tribune and Newswatch, he highlighted the potential of business reporting, even within political stories.

He illustrated this by stating, “When you report that a university official has misappropriated x amount of money, research into what facilities that amount can provide, and you are delving into business reporting. I therefore encourage you to develop a niche in business journalism to prepare for real-world media practice after your studies.”

The awards ceremony, organized by National Wire, celebrated outstanding campus journalists excelling in business reporting.

Award Winners

In the Best Business Feature category:

• Olamide Ayoade, a Mass Communication student from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, won first place for his entry published in Campus Mirror, titled “How OOU Student Entrepreneurs Leverage Tech for Career Advancement”.
• Sonaike Peter Omotola, Features Editor and a student of Education and Political Science at the University of Ibadan, secured second place.
• Tolulope Ayeye, Editor of Indy Press Organisation and a Law student at the University of Ibadan, claimed third place.

Additionally, Indy Press Organisation was recognized as Best Campus Journal of the Year 2024, solidifying its status as a top campus magazine.

The Vision Behind the Initiative

Dayo Emmanuel, Chairman of the awards and News Editor of National Wire, shared the motivation behind the initiative, stating, “Our website is strong on financial reporting, and we intend to raise fresh reporters into that beat from the campuses.”

He explained that the competition was created to encourage campus journalists already exploring business reporting. Despite initial concerns about low participation, the awards successfully attracted entries, proving that student journalists are willing to engage in financial journalism.

Emmanuel acknowledged the support of Manifold Media and Tayo Olanipekun, the main sponsors, expressing optimism that the initiative would inspire young journalists to explore financial reporting further.

Industry Experts Applaud the Initiative

Victor Emeruwa, Director of Strategy at Manifold Media, commended the effort for strategically targeting the next generation of reporters. He noted that while political journalism is often more popular, business reporting offers vast career opportunities.

Media trainer and career specialist Lekan Otufodunrin praised the focus on business reporting, calling it a commendable step in grooming the next generation of journalists. Similarly, Muyiwa Akíntúnde, Editor of Breezy News Nigeria, highlighted the initiative’s potential to nurture future journalists, while Ugonma Cokey, Director of Training at Voice of Nigeria, emphasized its role in equipping students for the industry.

Sanmi Falobi, Programme Manager of the International Press Centre (IPC), urged the organizers to sustain the initiative, emphasizing perseverance. “You must not relent and must not despise the days of small beginnings. Many of us look back at projects that started as dreams and are now big,” he said.

Representing the panel of judges, Ishaya Ibrahim, Editor at The Niche newspaper, commended the contestants for their dedication and encouraged them to explore business reporting from a student’s perspective.

Laying the Foundation for Future Business Journalists

The event marked a significant milestone in nurturing future business reporters from Nigerian campuses, setting the stage for a new generation of financial journalists.

National Wire, operated daily by three journalists from different cohorts of the Bloomberg Media Initiative for Africa (BMIA), has been publishing through nationalwire.com.ng since 2016. The website remains a strong platform for financial articles, garnering responses from Nigeria and beyond.