The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, has recorded a landmark achievement by emerging winner of the 2026 Future Pitcher Student Academy (FPSA), securing its first-ever victory in the prestigious Pan-African marketing communications competition.

The institution was represented by two Higher National Diploma (HND) II students of the Department of Strategic Communication, Miss Favour Mbagwu and Miss Kehinde Olatunji, who emerged as joint winners of the competition.

The feat is particularly significant as it marks the first time NIJ has won the contest since its inception and also the first occasion two students from the same institution have shared the top prize.

The 2026 edition of the FPSA attracted 26 students from 12 higher institutions across Africa, making it one of the most competitive editions of the programme.

Participating institutions included the University of Lagos, Covenant University, Redeemer’s University, the University of Ibadan, Olabisi Onabanjo University, McPherson University, Pan-Atlantic University, Ajayi Crowther University and Lancaster University, Ghana.

Notably, NIJ was the only institution accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) among the participants, while the remaining schools are universities accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

FPSA, formerly known as the Future Creative Leaders Academy (FCLA), is a Pan-African student competition in marketing communications organised as part of the Pitcher Festival, an initiative of CHINI Africa.

The finalists in the 2026 competition were Tomiwa Oyegunle of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Daniel Nnam of the University of Lagos, Bernice Ijekhuemen of Lancaster University, Ghana, and NIJ’s Favour Mbagwu and Kehinde Olatunji.

The final stage of the competition was conducted virtually on June 8 before a panel of international judges, who assessed participants based on the quality and effectiveness of their presentations.

At the end of the exercise, Mbagwu and Olatunji received the gold medal as joint winners. Tomiwa Oyegunle won the silver medal, while Bernice Ijekhuemen claimed the bronze medal.

In other categories, Mr. Jack Amaso of NIJ was named FPSA Lecturer of the Year. The School of the Year award went to the Department of Language and Communication Arts at the University of Ibadan, while Olabisi Onabanjo University and Redeemer’s University finished second and third respectively.

The competition was judged by Afua K. Asiedu of Publicis Groupe, Ghana, Lydia Gathigia, Strategic Director at Ogilvy, Ghana, and Nana Adwoa Adoma. Now in its 19th year, FPSA has grown into one of Africa’s foremost student competitions in advertising, marketing communications and creative strategy, dedicated to identifying, nurturing and showcasing the next generation of communication professionals across the continent.

By Emmanuel Ashemiriogwa

The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability on Friday, 5 June, by hosting a commemorative event for World Environment Day. Spearheaded by the ‘One Million Trees’ initiative, the programme sought to foster a culture of environmental stewardship among students and staff.

The event was themed “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” aligning with this year’s global focus, “Nature is not optional.”

Representatives from the One Million Trees initiative delivered an engaging awareness talk, underscoring the critical necessity of reforestation in an urban landscape like Lagos.

Emphasising the collective responsibility to preserve the planet, the officials stated, “Earth is our home, so we need to take care of it. Imagine every landlord in Lagos is mandated to have a tree in their house. You know how huge of a difference that would make.”

Adding to that, Deputy Provost of NIJ, Dr Adeboye Ola, reinforced the importance of the exercise by sharing his personal experiences with cultivating economic trees.

He assured the community that the newly planted trees would be meticulously nurtured, allowing future students to benefit from their fruit and shade.

“The space in the institution may not be enormous, but the area of land available will be utilised for maximum greenery,” Dr Ola noted.

During his contribution, the founding lecturer of the school’s environmental club, Ecozone, Mr Anthony Oligbo, welcomed the collaboration.

According to him, such activities are central to the club’s mandate and serve as a springboard for broader campus initiatives.

“This is an opportunity for the school to also prioritise other eco-friendly measures such as plastic recycling cages, etc.,” he added.

Following the seminar, the atmosphere shifted to the school field, where students, faculty, and initiative officials engaged in a practical demonstration of environmental action. More than 20 trees were planted, each thoughtfully tagged with special names and dedicated with prayers to ensure their growth.

This local effort contributes to a broader national strategy; the Lagos State Government, acting under the federal government’s agenda, continues to champion large-scale afforestation across the state.

By integrating these practices into the academic environment, NIJ is playing its part in the wider effort to secure a greener, more sustainable future for the state.

The Entertainment Editor of The Nation newspaper, Mr Gbenga Bada, has emphasised the importance of passion, professionalism and dedication as key ingredients for success in entertainment journalism. He made this point during an interactive session with HND I Journalism students at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) on 15 December 2025.

Mr Bada, who has worked across more than 15 media organisations, noted that although the entertainment industry is highly competitive and challenging, journalists must remain committed and resilient if they genuinely love the profession. According to him, passion is central to growth and excellence in entertainment reporting, stressing that without it, journalists may struggle to stand out or sustain a meaningful career.

Addressing the issue of sourcing, he advised reporters to build credible and reliable sources while maintaining clear professional boundaries. He cautioned against becoming too close to celebrities and public figures, adding that trustworthy sources should be able to provide broad, relevant and useful information.

He also highlighted the importance of visibility in entertainment journalism, describing the industry as one that thrives on presence and engagement. “Entertainment is show business, and you must show up,” he said. He encouraged reporters to attend events regularly, dress appropriately, maintain a good appearance, and avoid drug abuse or smoking, warning that such habits could lead to career damage. He further advised journalists to remain professional during celebrity interviews and not allow excitement to undermine journalistic standards.

Sharing his career journey, Mr Bada revealed that he worked with NET Nigeria before becoming a newspaper editor. He later moved from Daily Independent to ThisDay newspaper. Although he stepped away from active journalism for about two years, he said his passion for writing has continued to keep him connected to the profession, necessitating his return to the profession via The Nation newspaper.

He reiterated the need for professionalism when engaging celebrities and urged reporters not to be carried away by fame or status. In conclusion, Mr Bada encouraged aspiring entertainment journalists to develop strong multimedia skills, including effective use of cameras and mobile phones for recording, good interpersonal skills in the field, and strong writing ability, which he described as essential for success in modern entertainment journalism.

(Other Members of Group Five (Media Coverage: Print and Online) are Yekini Khayrah (Group Lead), Komolehin Mary Oluwaseun and Olaitan Balogun)

The event celebrated the remarkable contributions of foremost pioneers and veterans in the media space, present at the event including Uncle Sam Amuka, Tunde Thompson, Soni Irabor, Bimbo Oloyede, Mike Awoyefa, among others.