Student reporters at the University of Ibadan have made a bold appeal to the federal government, the university’s management, academic staff, and student leaders, urging them to uphold and respect the core principles of true and independent journalism.
The Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), the official umbrella body for student reporters at the institution, staged a press freedom rally on Friday in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.
The 2025 global celebration, spearheaded by UNESCO, is themed: “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”
Symbolic Protest for Media Rights on Campus
During the event, the student journalists marched with placards bearing inscriptions such as “A free press is the bedrock of a democratic society; silencing the press is silencing the people,” highlighting their call for media freedom and the protection of journalistic voices on campus.
Speaking at the rally, UCJ President Olanshile Ogunrinu strongly condemned the continued repression of campus press at the University of Ibadan and other higher institutions across the country.
“The press freedom rally today is a symbolic action against the wave of suppression of campus journalists at the University of Ibadan. It is to remind the university community that journalism, even on campus, deserves protection and not persecution,” Ogunrinu declared.
The union leader also addressed the ethical challenges posed by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence in media, cautioning student journalists against its misuse.
“I believe this year’s theme couldn’t be more timely. AI seems to be reshaping newsrooms in different ways. But while these tools bring innovation and efficiency, they also pose concerns about press freedom, accountability, and editorial integrity,” he said.
Earlier, on March 10, 2025, the campus press union issued a statement condemning the assault of two of its members, including Mr Ogunrinu, allegedly perpetrated by officers of the university’s internal security unit.
The statement detailed the harassment of Ogunrinu and fellow journalist Oluwasegun Akanni, who were allegedly manhandled during the March 7 Student Union inauguration ceremony held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
According to eyewitness accounts, members of the security unit, known as Abefele, reportedly seized the journalists’ phones and whisked Mr Akanni away while he was on official assignment.
In solidarity, the Coalition of Campus Journalists in Nigeria also condemned the violent treatment of student reporters at the university, describing the actions as a gross violation of press freedom and a threat to democratic engagement on campus.
