The Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), has once again made the institution proud after winning the Pen Club of the Year award at the Campus Journalism Awards 2025 held in Abuja on 6th December.
This marks the third time ACJ-OAU is receiving this prestigious national honour, reaffirming its consistency, growth, and influence in campus journalism across Nigeria.
The award, presented by one of the country’s leading youth-focused journalism bodies, recognised ACJ-OAU for its outstanding accomplishments and its commitment to nurturing young reporters.
In addition to the club’s achievement, two ACJ-OAU members who were shortlisted in individual categories, were awarded. Mercy Ojegbola emerged as the First Runner-Up in the broadcast category. Oluwafemi ADETUNJI, The ICONS Organization’s Editor-in-Chief, was awarded the winner of the News story category and the first runner-up for the Sport category.
READ ALSO: CJA2025: ACJOAU Shortlisted for Pen Press Category, Members Receive Multiple Nominations
The recognition has been celebrated widely among members and alumni of ACJOAU, who described it as a reminder of the club’s dedication to excellence and storytelling.
The President of the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU, Esther Olatimehin, expressed heartfelt excitement after ACJ was awarded Pen Club of the Year at the national Campus Journalism Awards. She described the recognition as a reward for years of consistency and a clear reflection of the hard work put in by members across different chapels.
According to her, winning such a prestigious national award is not an easy feat, and seeing ACJ earn that honour felt deeply validating. She noted that the award shows that the quality of journalism and writing coming from OAU is now being acknowledged on a much bigger stage.
Speaking on what made ACJ stand out, she highlighted several factors, including impactful and fearless reporting, high-quality content, and the professionalism ACJ maintains in its publications. She also emphasised the organisation’s commitment to training and developing its members, which is evident in the standard of news they publish.
Esther further explained that the award is a true reflection of the effort ACJ members invest in their work, especially the Correspondents who spend hours fact-checking, interviewing, and rewriting drafts to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Looking ahead, she believes this achievement redefines ACJ’s future. The award sets a new standard for the organisation and positions ACJ-OAU as a benchmark for student journalism both on campus and nationally. She added that the recognition opens doors to better opportunities, such as scholarships, internships, and professional networking for members.
In her final message, Esther celebrated every past and present member of ACJ, calling the win a shared victory. She encouraged them to remain curious, ethical, and dedicated to telling important stories. She urged members to protect the legacy they have built and continue striving for excellence, reminding them that today’s work shapes the journalists they will become tomorrow.
‘Consistency Is Everything’- Oluwafemi Adetunji 
Oluwafemi Adetunji, Editor-in-Chief of ICONS Organization, shared the emotions and experiences surrounding his victory. He explained that the moment was filled with tension and uncertainty, especially as he waited for the category he contested to be announced.
According to him, he became anxious when the first name was called, and it wasn’t his, but that moment also raised his hope that he might eventually emerge as the winner. He admitted that hearing his name announced brought him a deep sense of joy and relief.
He also recalled how the organisers asked where he came from, and he proudly declared, ‘Great Ife.’He said this with excitement, emphasising the well-known confidence of OAU students and the pride they carry wherever they go.
Reflecting on his journey, he explained that this was not his first attempt at the award. He applied last year but was not shortlisted at all. This made the win even more meaningful to him, especially because he committed himself fully to the work that eventually earned him the award.
Offering advice to upcoming journalists, Ayanfe stressed the importance of consistency. He encouraged students not to give up too easily but to keep working, stay committed, and find their niche, particularly a type of report they are passionate about. ‘Let people know you for something,’ he said.
He also addressed the common belief that journalism has little financial reward. He noted that despite this, the overall best winner at the event was recommended for job opportunities, proof that journalism can open doors. According to him, the field provides numerous avenues for networking, building connections, and gaining visibility.
Ayanfe concluded by encouraging young journalists to be bold, transparent, and persistent. For him, journalism remains a platform to speak up, tell the truth, and make meaningful contributions to society.
Mercy Ojebola, First Runner-Up, Broadcast Category
Mercy Ojebola, the Vice President of ACJOAU, shared how she felt after emerging as the First Runner-Up. She said it was a great feeling for her because getting to the finalist stage alone was already a big win. When she arrived at the venue, she met many people with strong results and excellent work, so being recognised among them meant a lot. Since this is her first national journalism recognition, she described it as a truly big moment for her.
Talking about the moment her name was announced, she said her first reaction was simply, ‘Oh wow.’She was grateful and happy that she could get to that level.
For her advice to others, Mercy encouraged students to keep doing what they love and what they can do well. As a broadcaster, she shared that even though broadcasting has always been her main interest, she has tried to explore other forms of journalism. This recognition has encouraged her to think more about what else she can do, such as writing and news reporting.
She ended by saying that anyone can do what they love in journalism. Do not top yourself. Do everything you know how to do, do it consistently, and let people see that you are trying your best.