As the 7th edition of the Campus Journalism Awards (CJA) 2025 approaches, Youths Digest has officially announced the five-member Screening Committee tasked with evaluating entries and shortlisting finalists for the prestigious ceremony.
According to Gidado Yushau Shuaib, founder of the Awards and Director of the Youths Digest Campus Journalism Initiative, the committee’s formation is a critical step in ensuring the integrity of the selection process ahead of the grand event scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The Screening Committee will be chaired by Samad Uthman, a seasoned digital investigations journalist with AFP. He will be joined by a diverse and experienced panel of media professionals.
The members include Kayode Ezekiel, Editor at News Digest; Caleb Ijioma, Executive Director of Roundcheck; Abdulwaheed Sofiullahi, an award-winning investigative journalist; and Banyinorim Agbo, a public relations practitioner who also serves as Vice President Education for Toastmasters International.
This five-member body has been mandated to uphold the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and best editorial practices throughout the screening process.
Entries for the awards will be evaluated between October 20 to 31, 2025 with a preliminary shortlist of finalists set to be released on November 1, 2025.
The constitution of the panel is aimed at ensuring a credible and merit-based selection process that is reflective of the core values of ethical journalism and youth empowerment.
This year’s edition of the CJA is set to recognise over 30 finalists across 15 competitive categories.
These categories span a broad range of journalistic endeavors, including Upcoming Writer of the Year, Entertainment Writer of the Year, Sports Writer of the Year, and News Reporter of the Year.
The awards also highlight specialized areas such as Gender Equality Reporter of the Year, Investigative Journalist of the Year, and Fact Check of the Year, in addition to acknowledging technical and creative roles like Broadcaster of the Year, Photojournalist of the Year, and Social Media Influencer of the Year. Further recognition will be given to Features Writer of the Year, Editor of the Year, Author (Book) of the Year, Pen Club of the Year, and Print Magazine of the Year.
Submit your entry now: youthsdigest.org/campus-journalism-awards-2025-entry-form
The Campus Journalism Awards remains a leading platform dedicated to celebrating excellence, integrity, and innovation among student journalists across Nigeria and Africa.
The initiative is hosted in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigerian Chapter, and is proudly supported by Amnesty International and the Voice of Nigeria.
