JOURNALISM: Ogun NUJ Unveils Plans For 2025 Press Week to Peak in Jounaliganza Night
The cradle of journalism practice in Nigeria, Abeokuta, is set to play host to the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Week as the state chapter of the Journalists union has unveiled plans to observe the week scheduled to peak in a JOURNALIGANZA NIGHT among other activities reports Olufemi Orunsola.
By: Olufemi Orunsola
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, has unveiled activities to mark its 2025 Press Week to include a Journaliganza day, scheduled to hold from Sunday, 28th September to Friday, 3rd October, 2025.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA OTN News reports that the week-long activities with the year's celebration theme; “The Future of Journalism: Navigating AI and Objective Reporting”, promises to be both intellectually engaging and socially impactful.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of the Council, Comrade Bunmi Adigun, as sighted by OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News stated that the week will feature a rich lineup of activities to include;
• Day 1 (Sunday, 28th September): Church Thanksgiving.
• Day 2 (Monday, 29th September): Opening Ceremony/Symposium.
• Day 3 (Tuesday, 30th September): Village Outreach.
• Day 4 (Wednesday, 1st October): Independence Walk, Chapels’ Variety Day, and Asun Night/Journalists’ Hangout.
• Day 5 (Thursday, 2nd October): Health Checkup, Sports Competitions (Sprints, Relay Race & Football), and Veterans’ Night.
• Day 6 (Friday, 3rd October): Jumat Service and Asale Asa (Journaliganza).
Also speaking on the upcoming Press Week, the State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Akinwale Olanrewaju, emphasized that the event will not only serve as a platform for professional discourse but also strengthen camaraderie among journalists while giving back to society through outreach programs.
In his own remarks, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Comrade Emmanuel Oke, also promised a wonderful weeklong event.
The 2025 Press Week is expected to attract journalists, media executives, government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders in the state.
OTN News recalls that Abeokuta is credited as the cradle of journalism practice in Nigeri given the established records that Henry Townsend was against Crowther, had way back in 1859, published a Yoruba newspaper called ‘Iwe-Irohin’ said to have started off the print media in NiNigeria.l
The newspaper which lasted for 8 years between 1859 to 1867, before it folded up was the bilingual paper in Nigeria and was regarded as first indigenous newspaper in the whole of West Africa, a time when Nigeria was still a conglomeration of diverse kingdoms and cultures,
That Premiere newspaper, known as “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba (A Newspaper for the Egba and Yoruba People}” was aimed at educating and with a desire to bridge the gap between various communities.
The birth of the indigenous newspaper was pivotal moment not only marked the introduction of the press to the nation but also signaled the beginning of a new era in communication and information dissemination.
The newspaper became a platform for discussions on various topics, including religion, education, culture, and social issues, and in 1866, and was produced in two versions; the English language and the Yoruba language, of which the English was sold for a penny.
Archival records further reveals that the newspaper was published biweekly with 8 pages for 129 cowries; about 3000 copies were being circulated every two weeks, and at initial stage focused on church news.
The newspaper later expanded to cover topics like Abeokuta, cotton, and cocoa statistics and by 1860, local ads and government notices were included, which was popular among the literate population in Abeokuta and Yoruba land, and it served as a source for church activities, religious figures’ updates, and local information, thus played a pivotal role in fostering literacy and enlightenment among the Yoruba people as it provided them with a window to the wider world, covering both local events and international news.
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