NIJ SRC Launches Maiden Public Speaking Contest at Career Day
Students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba Lagos, took centre stage yesterday as the Students’ Representative Council staged its maiden public speaking competition during Career Day.
The event, which is part of the student week activities titled “Brains and vibes” was held at the Sir Dr. Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Media Resource Centre, challenged students to turn classroom theory into clear, convincing speech under pressure.
The contest, held under the theme “The Power of Communication in Every Industry”, featured six contestants: Amaole Josephine, Dada Adeyemi Olanike, Benita Chioma Mabawonku, Mobolaji Chelsea Dolapo, Mosaku Kehinde, and Mohammed Tolani Lateefat. They were tasked with articulating ideas clearly and bridging academic concepts with real-world practice across various topics.
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Speaking at the event, CEO of RED for Africa, Ayodeji Razaq, urged students to reject mediocrity and commit to mastery, citing how he quitted football at age 14 after setting clear personal goals.
On artificial intelligence, Razaq said while AI can flood the world with content, only humans can choose and tell the truth.
“The world does not lack content. It lacks truth well told,” he stated, adding that communicators must protect human insight as technology evolves.
A panel moderated by NIJ student Okunoye Marvellous brought the discussion closer to students, with an HR expert Adedolapo Wale-Kehinde noting that communication extends beyond speech to include body language, intent, and respect.
A Digital strategist, Romoke Badejo advised students to replace CVs with portfolios, noting that employers want proof of work, not just words, stressing that active listening as a non-negotiable skill for every communicator.
Veteran journalist Lekan Otufodunrin dismissed the “mass communication vs journalism” debate and urged students to start creating now. “Write, broadcast, and shoot photos using social media and other platforms. Your generation has the advantage of technology,” he said.
Medical doctor and digital creator Dr. Faith Omen closed the session with a call for balance.
She warned against burnout from “work, work, work” and encouraged students to live multi-faceted lives. “Be authentic, because you are basically the niche,” she said, while also advising students not to chase likes but to use social media like a journal to document and inspire others.
The competition ended with three standout students, Mohammed Tolani Lateefat finished third position, Amaole Josephine placed second, while Benita Chioma Mabawonku emerged overall winner after outstanding performance with clarity, confidence, rooted eloquence and strong delivery under pressure.
By Abdulbaqi Jibreel Ajao
