By Abubakar Imam
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has expressed profound satisfaction with the emerging dispositions of the institution’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), saying that the Chapel has become very active and vibrant.
Prof. Egbewole stated this last Tuesday (September 9, 2025) while speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day maiden workshop organised by the Chapel at the Auditorium Basement.
The Professor of Jurispudence and International Law said that he was delighted that the Chapel organised the talkshop for its members and their colleagues from sister organisations.
Prof. Egbewole, who is the Vice President (West Africa) of the Association of African Universities (AAU), said that the workshop has undoubtedly announced the chapel as a critical player in the field of journalism in Nigeria with the potential of raising the flag of the University higher.
While expressing the hope that the “big ideas” generated at the workshop would impact positively on the practice of journalism on the campus, Prof. Egbewole said that he would also expect that the knowledge imparted would reflect positively on the production of the weekly UNILORIN Bulletin, the UNILORIN 89.3 FM and UNILORIN TV as well as on the institution’s social media team for the University’s alluring image to remain shining.
Earlier in his presentation, a veteran journalist, Mr AbdulRaheem Adebayo Adedoyin, warned journalists against over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.
Mr Adedoyin, whose paper was delivered last Monday (September 8, 2025), explained that as good as AI is, no serious journalist should rely exclusively on it for information gathering, processing and dissemination.
The renowned journalist, who is a member of the Board of the International Press Institute, said that while journalists and news organisations must adapt AI as it has become inevitable in the contemporary media practice. The former Commissioner for Information in Kwara State, said that journalists must be very meticulous in the usage of AI so that they would not be misled by it. As he said, AI, just like other technological devices, is meant to guide humans and not to control them.
In the second paper delivered by a former Head, Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Dr Mahmud Abdulraheem, broadcasters and their managers were enjoined to always ensure quality assurance in the information they serve the public in order to project and protect public sanity.
Dr Abdulraheem, whose paper titled ‘‘Ethics in the Digital Age’’was delivered last Tuesday (September 9, 2025), said that adherence to ethics is not an option as he explained that journalists who are exposed to quality home training would not find it difficult to adhere strictly to professional ethics.The renowned broadcaster, who is a former General Manager of the Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Kwara), Ilorin, said that the preservation of quality assurance in media practice would not only enhance peace and development but also make journalists and their organisations standout among their peers.
While encouraging journalists to be familiar with the laws of the land in order to avoid committing infractions, Dr Abdulraheem enjoined journalists to be self-regularory as he advised them to always leave out any information that they are not sure of its veracity.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, commended the UNILORIN Chapel of the NUJ for organising the workshop.
Others who graced the opening ceremony were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taiba Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar, Senate, Mrs Taiwo Kafayat Afolayan; the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa; the Bursar, Mr Abiodun Lawal, who was represented by Mr Mohammed Jimoh Akanbi and the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, as well as the General Manager, UNILORIN FM, Mr Idris Alooma, among others.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the UNILORIN Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Alex Morenikeji Akanmu; the Chairman of UNILORIN Branch of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mr Naheem Olusola Falowo; a Deputy Director at the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Festus Ogunyika and a former Chairman of the Kwara Council and former National Financial Secretary of NUJ, Mr Abiodun Abdulkareem, among several others.
