Former Echo Media Editor-in-Chief Made CJID's 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards Shortlist

By Our Reporter

Emmanuel Oluwadola, the former editor-in-chief of Echo Media, a campus media outlet at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has been shortlisted for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards.

CJID disclosed this through its press release on Tuesday, announcing the final shortlist for its annual Excellence in Media Awards for outstanding journalism across West Africa.

Oluwadola, who also served as the President of the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalism (NUCJ) AAUA chapter, made the list with his investigative fact-check report, “Exposing how website uses unverifiable experts and unsupported claims to market unregistered prostatitis product”.

According to CJID the finalists will be honoured at the CJID Awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, as part of the Media and Development Conference where the winner and runner-up in each category will be announced at the ceremony.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CJID Dapo Olorunyom,  while commenting on the shortlist congratulated the finalists and commended journalists who submitted entries from across West Africa.

Hannah Ajakaiye, the founding editor of FactsMatter NG, who chaired the jury praised the quality of entries submitted for the award, stating that the shortlists merited their selection.

“We also saw a better understanding of solutions journalism, particularly in stories that examined how people responded to a problem and what the evidence showed about the results. We see room for improvement in fact-checking and in the coverage of sexual and gender-based violence.”

Oluwadola is a Fellow of the Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) Disabilities and Inclusion Fellowship in 2023. He emerged as the winner of the Best Fact-Check of the Alfred Opubor Campus Journalism Award at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Award Ceremony in 2024.

He won the 2024 “Our Punch Years” National Book Essay Competition organised by Media Career Development Network in partnership with the Punch Newspaper.

The shortlist was drawn from eight categories from which the finalists emerged including Health reporting, Community reporting, Human Rights reporting, Social Accountability, Climate Change reporting, Solutions Journalism, Fact-Checking, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The 2026 Excellence in Media Awards are supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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AAUASU Government Outlines Plans to Fight Rising Housing Costs

By Ayotomiwa Mayomi. 

Adekunle Ajasin University Student Union (AAUASU) government expressed its plans to fight the rising cost of house rent affecting students' welfare during a plenary meeting in the presence of various stakeholders, political leaders, and students on November 7, 2026, at the school's Old Relaxation Center.

Following the report, the AAUASU President, Folagbade Greatness highlighted students' role in allowing landlords to set rental payments. He acknowledged the presence of the Director of Housing and Accommodation, Olatigbe Olaniyi Daniel, and noted that the committee has been actively working to address the rise in the cost of house rent.

“The committee has been trying to curb the house rent issues and it seems our effort is not visible enough” he said. 

Director Olatigbe proposed that all agents and houses be registered to facilitate the identification of landlords associated with concerning activities. He also recommended organizing a protest that would engage stakeholders and students, along with a visit to the king’s palace (Alale of Akungba) as a potential resolution to the emerging issues.

“Probably every house should be registered and all agents should get registered. We’ll be able to identify the thief among them” Olatigbe said. 

The AAUASU president acknowledged Olatigbe's commitment to the issue and agreed to the proposal of registering houses and agents as entities while scheduling a visit to the King's palace on the 9th and 10th of November 2026.

“It is good to make a significant move now. I suggest we create a Google Form so that all students can register their villa, including the name of the street, caretaker’s information, current and previous house rent, and a review of the room if it suits the house rent. We should also create a committee to regulate access to the room. I feel we should start a protest and release a flyer containing exhortations and warnings about bad agents across the whole of Akungba”

I think on Monday and Tuesday we should go and meet the king and also have meetings with the villa president.” He said. 

After his deliberations, the president announced a decision to release a Google form for all students to register their houses. This initiative as claimed by him is to provide the Student Union Government (SUG) with information to address the underlying issues effectively and engage with house agents and landlords physically. Additionally, he stated that a memorandum and flyer would be distributed to outline students' concerns in support of the upcoming protest.

“Let’s hit the community” he said. 

The Student Union Government(SUG) thereby took a step to appoint new executives to alleviate the workload for the current members. 

Additionally, Comrade Olatigbe nominated seven individuals for consideration for inclusion in the committee. This expansion is anticipated to enhance the committee's ability to address accommodation-related challenges and promote broader student participation.

During the meeting, the president noted the low engagement and encouraged students to participate in discussions that would lead to effective solutions for issues affecting them.

Other topics addressed included delays in payments by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), speculation regarding school fees, and concerns about a potential increase in tuition and other institutional charges for nursing students.

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Dangote IPO: ADF Offers Tertiary Students Free Additional 10 Shares

By Daniel Akinte

The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has introduced a Share Grant Initiative to support eligible tertiary students across Nigeria who participate in the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP) by offering an additional 10 free shares. 

Under the initiative terms, an eligible student who successfully applies for and pays for at least 10 DPRP shares through the designated ADF student subscription channel may qualify for the Foundation to apply on the student's behalf for an additional 10 shares at no cost to the student.

The initiative is open to eligible students aged 18 and above who are enrolled in recognised public or private tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Students are also required to meet the applicable verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.

The ongoing Dangote Refinery IPO is priced at ₦525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares, amounting to ₦5,250. The offer opened on September 14, 2026, and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026. 

Click here for the Official Registration Portal for Aliko Dangote Foundation Share Grant Initiative and then click on the join now when the link opens.

How the student share grant works

The Foundation's initiative requires eligible students to first make their own subscription for at least 10 DPRP shares through the designated ADF student subscription channel.

The student's own subscription is separate from the additional application that may be funded by the Foundation. The ADF-funded application is not a cash payment, rebate, or refund to the student.

The Foundation's terms also state that students should not pay any separate fee to the Foundation or any individual to participate in the initiative.

It is important to note that participation in the initiative does not guarantee share allotment. Both the student's personal application and the ADF-funded application remain subject to the applicable IPO terms and allotment procedures.

Further clarification on the initiative was provided during a Zoom interaction between campus journalists across Nigeria and representatives of the Dangote Group on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

The interaction, moderated by Team Lead/Editor-in-chief at DevReporting and Chairman of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria, Mojeed Alabi, raised some questions from campus journalists to the representatives of Dangote Group about the eligibility requirements, previous IPO subscriptions, CSCS accounts and the number of shares students could subscribe for.

One of the questions asked by a campus journalist was: “Will students who have subscribed to the Dangote IPO before the commencement of the initiative be eligible for the Dangote Foundation grant?”

A representative of Dangote Group and the Deputy Group Managing Director at Vetiva Capital Management Limited, Damilola Ajayi, answered saying, “All qualified students are eligible. What students need to do is to apply through the official Aliko Dangote Foundation portal to partake in the initiative.”

This clarification is relevant to students who may have subscribed to the Dangote IPO before becoming aware of the Foundation's initiative.

Another question raised during the interaction concerned the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) account. A campus journalist asked: “Since there'll be a need for a CSCS account for trading, will there be a need to register for another account?”

Ajayi stated that: “When you look at the interface of the official website, you'll see where BVN is required. This BVN will be verified to ascertain if there's any CSCS account linked with it. If there is, it is still that account that will be used, and the student's broker will communicate with him or her. But if the person is a first-timer, the site will automatically create an account for such students through Vectica Broker.”

The clarification means that students who already have an applicable account linked to their BVN may not need to create another account for the purpose of the initiative, while first-time participants would be guided through the account-opening process.

The Foundation's terms state that allotted shares from either the student's own application or the ADF-funded application are to be held electronically in the appropriate CSCS account under the applicable procedures.

In response to a question concerning the limit for students, the answer given by Ajayi stated that: “The minimum is 10 units but no maximum.” This means that while 10 shares is the minimum subscription, students may personally apply for additional shares in multiples of 10, subject to the applicable IPO requirements.

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AAUA Students Expresses Displeasure As Strike Continues

By Tofunmi Oyekanmi & Ayotomiwa Mayomi. 

In an interview with Echo Media, Adekunle Ajasin University students expressed their displeasure over the ongoing indefinite strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko branch ASUU (AAUA), which started July 10, 2026 over the non-implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement.

"It's not funny seeing my mate. Who we both wrote JAMB and now they are resuming as 300 level students while i'm stucked in 200-level. Before the strike started, I would have be in the exam hall writing my 200-level last semester exam which is now on hold says Biobaku Soyinka a 200-level Mass Communication student.

A 200 level student of the Department of Philosophy, Fagbemi Rhoda expressed her displeasure saying. " I expect that after exam,I will begin to work on some plans that I had made but the strike has affected my plans. The number of years I'm suppose to spend in school is increasing."

“The strike has also affect my decision to find a part-time job because no one want to accept student whose school is on strike." said Rhoda.

Similarly, Satimehin Samuel, a 100-level Medical Laboratory Science student, said the strike has forced him to cancel programmes and other plans he had made around his expected academic schedule.

“There are lots of programs I have to attend this month at my residence, but I have no option than to let it go. as well as some schedule I had in mind towards the next session for me to plan ahead the semester, but I have to cancel them, cause there is still a semester left delaying me just because of the strike.

“Whenever I decide to travel back to my residence just as other students did, that is when I will see another peaceful memorandum, giving me the assurance that the strike will be call off soon. And that has really cause series of uncertainty.” He said.

Ogunkomaya Kehinde, a 300-level Banking and Finance student, said the lack of clarity about resumption had made her less inclined to study intensively at home. " I feel relaxed about my academics right now because I don't want to stress my self reading at home When I don't know when I'm to be back on campus”.

‎ For Akadiri Sekinat, a 200-level Mass Communication student, the major concern is the examination itself.

”It has affected a lot, especially the exams. I’m quite scared about the exams right now because my brain is not even functioning the way it’s supposed to ” She said.

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Aiyedatiwa Approves ₦1.1bn for AAUA Amid Strike

By Ayotomiwa Mayomi

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved a N1.1 billion special intervention fund for Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), to offset outstanding salary arrears owed to staff of the institution.

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the governor approved the release of the fund as part of efforts to address the salary arrears and prevent recurring industrial disputes at the university.

According to the statement, the intervention is intended to settle outstanding salary obligations to workers and help resolve the issues contributing to the ongoing industrial action at the institution.

The AAUA chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced its strike on July 10 over issues relating to staff welfare and salary arrears. However, as of the time of filing this report, the union had not issued an official statement on the governor’s latest intervention.

The statement added that Governor Aiyedatiwa had directed the Ondo State Ministry of Finance and the university management to ensure the prompt release and disbursement of the funds.

He also appealed to the university unions to suspend the strike and return to work in the interest of students and the continued development of the institution.

Prince Adeniyan further stated that the intervention reflects the Aiyedatiwa administration’s commitment to building a motivated workforce and strengthening AAUA as a 21st-century university capable of competing globally.

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ASUU-AAUA Embarks on Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

By Nimatallah Aliyu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has commenced an indefinite strike over the non-payment of lecturers' salaries, bringing academic activities in the institution to a standstill.

The development was announced in a notice issued on Friday, July 10, 2026, by the Adekunle Ajasin University Students' Union Government (AAUASU), informing students that the industrial action officially took effect at 11:59 p.m. the same day.

According to the notice, the decision followed a resolution reached during the ASUU-AAUA Congress held on July 10, where members reaffirmed resolutions earlier adopted at the union's April 28 and June 18 congresses.

The statement noted that the union withdrew academic services over the non-payment of May and June 2026 salaries, declaring the strike to be "total, comprehensive, and indefinite." It added that the action would remain in force "until all outstanding salaries are fully paid by the appropriate authorities."

Reacting to the development, the Students' Union urged members of the university community to remain calm and await further official communications.

"All students are hereby advised to remain calm, law-abiding, and attentive to subsequent official communications from the University Management and the Students' Union Government regarding the implications of this industrial action on academic activities," the statement read.

The union also assured students that it would continue to engage relevant stakeholders and provide verified updates as events unfold.

"Students are strongly advised to disregard unverified information and rely solely on official announcements from the University Management, ASUU-AAUA, and the Students' Union Government," the notice added.

The announcement has generated anxiety among students, many of whom fear the indefinite strike could disrupt the academic calendar and delay examinations if a resolution is not reached quickly.

As of the time of filing this report, the university management had yet to issue an official response to the strike declaration.

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Kidnapped Oyo Pupils, Teachers Regain Freedom_ Presidency

Kidnapped Oyo Pupils and Teachers Regain Freedom_ Presidency

By Eniola Akinwumi-Niyi

The pupils and teachers who were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been released after spending 56 days in captivity according presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga. 

The Presidency confirmed the release of the abductees, with Presidential spokesperson Bayo 

Onanuga announcing the news on Facebook and X ( formerly called Twitter ).

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga said.

In a video shared by Onanuga, Alamu Folawe, the Vice Principal of Community Grammar School, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the security personnel involved in the rescue.

She said "The President, sir, we are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety, and we appreciate all you did for us. Every security operative tried so much, and that is why we are still alive now. We are very grateful."

According to Onanuga, the group, consisting of 39 pupils and seven teachers, was rescued following coordinated operations by various security agencies.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Olugbenga Abimbola, also confirmed the rescue and indicated that further details of the operation would be provided later.

Reports indicate that the abductees were held inside the Old Oyo National Park, a protected forest reserve associated with the Kainji National Park, where a faction of Boko Haram was reportedly active. Some terrorists were reportedly killed during the rescue operation.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed individuals attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and L.A. Primary School, Ahoro-Esinle, leading to heightened concern across the state.

Governor Seyi Makinde condemned the abduction, recognizing it as a reflection of changing security challenges in the country. He stated that security operatives encountered improvised explosive devices planted by the attackers during search operations and announced the arrest of six suspects linked to the incident.

The incident prompted protests by civil society organizations and members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), who demanded the immediate rescue of the victims.

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Pro-Chancellor of AAUA Assures New VC of Governor’s Support

By: Oyekanmi Tofunmi

The pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council at AAUA, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has expressed the support of Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the newly inaugurated vice chancellor, Professor Tomola Marshal Obamuyi, throughout his tenure.

This statement was made during the inauguration ceremony of the vice chancellor, held at the university's multipurpose hall on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, attended by members of the governing council, university community, students, and other dignitaries.

"I can affirm after two hours deliberation with the Ondo state governor that you will get his support during your tenure” 

 He assured the new vice chancellor of the university that the governing council will provide the necessary support for his tenure. 

He emphasized that the governing council aims to enhance the university's competitive standing on a global scale, aligning with the vice chancellor's vision. "The objective is to position the university as a distinguished institution in Nigeria and a globally competitive center for learning and research," he stated.

The pro-chancellor conveyed confidence in the vice chancellor's ability to advance research initiatives and urged him to lead the university towards recognized excellence in teaching, research, and community service. He underlined the importance of fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation among staff, students, and stakeholders.

In his remarks, the pro-chancellor acknowledged the contributions of the immediate past vice-chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ebenezer Ige, and thanked his wife, Chief Mrs. Olugbenga, for her support.

He congratulated the new vice chancellor, noting his credentials and reputation in academia, particularly in the field of banking and finance in Africa.

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AAUA VC Promises More Than Survival for Students

By Jesupelumi Adesua 

Adekunle Ajasin University’s newly inaugurated Vice Chancellor, Professor Tomola Marshal Obamuyi, has assured students that his administration will create an enabling environment where they can thrive, not just survive, promising to provide the structures to support it. 

Professor Obamuyi made these remarks during his inauguration as the university's seventh substantive Vice Chancellor, which took place on Wednesday at the Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall.

"You are not merely students but also human beings with pressures, anxieties, and aspirations that extend beyond the lecture hall. We will provide structures that will enable you to thrive, not just survive, in AAUA," he said.

Regarding students' welfare, Professor Obamuyi affirmed that his administration would prioritize mental health and well-being alongside academic achievement. He noted the significance of addressing students as individuals with various pressures, anxieties, and aspirations beyond academic pursuits. He indicated plans to implement support systems that would facilitate thriving rather than merely surviving in the university environment.

In his address to the students, he emphasized their central role in the university's existence and stated that all advancements, including lecture halls, new buildings, partnerships, and grants, were made for their benefit. He urged students to participate actively in university life and contribute to the campus community.

He urged students to prepare for life after university by becoming responsible citizens rather than solely residents on campus saying they should be “scholars and not certificate seekers”, highlighting the complexities and competitiveness of the world beyond the university as a crucial consideration for students.

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