By Abdullah Tijani, The Editor-in-chief of The News Digest Press, 2020/2021 Academic Session
Just like other years before it, the era of the Abdullah-Tijani-led administration is coming to an end. The sun rotating the earth has returned to its starting point. Today, the sun will set and we will witness the beginning of a new era.
My speech will reminisce about our journalism so far. I still cannot believe it. That I led the leading press outlet on the soil of UDUS, and we are here celebrating our success. The feelings is inexplicable. For today, I will step down as the Editor-in-chief and bow out of the press outlet that has groomed me to become the best version of myself. The version I will forever cherish and forever jealous.
My time as the Editor-in-chief of The News Digest Press designed a media platform that now harbours the sight of a repressive force in government. In the last few months, despite all unfavourable circumstances, we have developed a journalism that stings like a bee to those who find the rights of humans unworthy of respect.
We have laid down a foundation of journalism that roars and plants unrest in the hearts of those who find injustice to fellow humans pleasurable. And we have built journalists who shoot the bullets of fear at those who would cause pandemonium to pierce the peace of our peaceful university.
Our greatest achievement: on the soil of UDUS, we are happy to serve as a pacesetter for other media platforms on what journalism truly entails.
While doing all these, the goal is to see our university becoming an epitome of knowledge like that of the ancient Timbuktu and the residents living in peace like that of a deep sea. We aspire for a community where actions are judged by intentions and not the other way round.
There was a time our campus witnessed quite a number of dramas. The tension was intense. One of them was the cult of broccoli saga which almost drew out intestines from the students’ anuses. And an unknown reverberating sound that blew out in a night class, causing night readers to scamper for safety. Students literally ran and got injured for nothing. I hope you all remember these days. Those days, the atmosphere kept everyone at alarm.
But with our journalism, we restored hope in the institution that shelters us. We exposed broccoli and brought back normalcy on campus. This is the influence of the truth and the rigour of our journalism to uncover the truth. If there is any lesson the incidents taught us, it is the indispensable necessity of journalism in society. Not only that, for the list is endless.
Throughout our administration, we ensured our page was filled with journalism of investigations and in-depth stories, we uncovered several vices that have eaten deep into the system. All in the name of unearthing the plans capable of creating confusion into our proud peaceful university, all in the name of creating comfort for all and sundry. Most commonly, all in the name of serving the community called the Danfodites.
Unfortunately, it has become a custom that journalists do not often get praise for their work. The efforts of our investigation quickly waned out in the mind of the public. Many times, we received criticism for doing what was right; this is not to say we are perfect and without flaws.
But, imagine a world without journalism, it will be a black globe kept in a dark box. Nobody would know what transpires in between. The leaders are left in ignorance of an ant that hides under a pillow. And the populace are kept rotten at the mercy of the leaders who derive pleasure in censoring what goes to the public.
As a media platform, our priority is to serve the people what they deserve to know — the truth. And in doing this, we harbour no objective other than seeing our dear institution’s progress.
Meanwhile, if we are to learn from what history has taught us, it is that we do not learn. One thing is clear: our works are a testimony that our leaders need to give more space for journalism to thrive. And for that, there cannot be a better time than now.
The success of this administration is the fruit of some committed members’ labour who sacrificed their pleasure for Digest’s purpose. They placed the press club above everything. To all the members who committed their cash, time and efforts, I say thank you. I have nothing to repay you but I have prayers.
To you all:
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall soft upon your feet
And every time you need help, may a friend always be near.
~ Irish Prayer
Thank you all.