PEN Writers' Diary: What I Miss on UDUS Campus amid ongoing ASUU Strike

By Abdulrasheed Akere Abdulkareem

As the strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU) lingers, students of concerned universities are forced to stay away from their favourite people and activities on campus. Students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) are not an exception. Some Danfodites miss night classes while others miss hostel life, sports, Morocco and popular foods on campus like sweet potato and soya cake, popularly known as Denkeli and Awara.

However, UDUS campus journalists, like me, miss their respective press boards, editorial meetings and the National Association of Campus Journalists (NACJ-UDUS) congresses. The impact of these boards and NACJ-UDUS spurs campus journalists to frequent their conventions.

Why I Miss my Press Board— PEN PRESS UDUS

PEN PRESS UDUS is the foremost press outfit on the Fodiyo Varsity soil, known to equip past, current and prospective students, lecturers, administrators and outsiders with accurate information about the institution. This press board boasts of award-winning journalists who enlighten their less-experienced colleagues on how to thrive in the journalism field.

Without a doubt, the PEN family members miss the Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Abdulrasheed Hammad, a cheerful man of excellence that ensures every editorial meeting is value-laden.

Furthermore, one would miss the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Promise Eze, a man of wisdom; the Principal Editor, Hayatullah Abu Lubabah, a man of humility; the Managing Editor, Owolabi Khadijah, a versatile woman; the Editor, Mazeed Mukhtar, a dedicated editor and committed creative writer; the Sports Editor, Sherifdeen Olamilekan, a competent and diligent journalist; and the Sub-Editor, Damilare Abdulhakeem Smart, an enthusiastic and admirable honcho.

Before the strike, these editors elucidated distinct journalistic themes to benefit us, the budding writers. The cooperation between the editors and other PEN PRESS officials, including the General Secretary, Kabirat Olashehinde; Assistant Secretary, Shehu Muhammad Shehu; the Publicity Secretary, Faruq Ibrahim Olaoti; and the Financial Secretary, Hamid Fatimah Omotayo (Pen Babe) helps the outfit maintain her lead role amongst the outfits on campus.

I equally miss other PEN members and hope ASUU calls off the strike soon. I can't wait to resume learning and growing in the journalistic realm.

Missing NACJ-UDUS Congresses

The National Association of Campus Journalists (NACJ), is the mother body of all apolitical press outfits in UDUS, embodying five prestigious press boards. They include PEN Press, the News Digest Press, Vanguard Press, Gamji Press and the Interwatch. I look forward to congress and meeting veteran journalists from other press boards. These conferences serve as avenues for campus journalists to get in contact with the Incumbent NACJ President, Abiodun Jamiu; his Vice, Aminat Gambari; the General Secretary, Abdulrasheed Hammad; the Chairman of the Check and Balance Committee, Yusuf Balogun; Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Abdulwasiu Olokooba; the EIC of the News Digest Press, Abdullahi Tijani; and prominent journalists like Abdulrasheed Eleru, Ibrahim Ghazali, Sheriffdeen Sawe et cerera.

Anyone who frequents NACJ-UDUS' conventions would acknowledge the exertion of Abdulwaheed Sofiullahi and Abdulganiyu Abdulrahman Akanbi as they work to reinvigorate campus journalism in the seat of the caliphate. Regular attendees of these congresses would miss the intellectual discussions embarked upon by skilled and competent UDUS journalists. Indeed, the contribution of NACJ-UDUS to the status of the university and her development is immeasurable.