Yinka Olaito
Today we are witnessing a major and alarming trend on our campuses across Nigeria. There is now an escalating issue of student and campus journalists facing disturbing intimidation, harassment and censorship. There is also outright physical attacks simply for reporting on governance failures, security breaches, highhandedness, tuition hikes and corruption perpetrated by some school management
Original intention of higher institutions but…
Long celebrated as crucibles of intellectual freedom and democratic discourse, Nigeria’s higher-education institutions are now at the epicentre of a troubling rollback of press freedom. A clear and unmistakable sign is that there is a climate of fear and control which mirrors the broader national trajectory, where legal instruments and extralegal coercion alike are being marshalled to constrict the space for independent journalism and silence dissenting voices.
From East to West, North to South within Nigeria campuses, student journalists doing their beats in exposing institutional malpractice, unsafe accommodations, electoral irregularities, and staff misconduct are increasingly subjected to punitive actions
Why Campus Press Freedom Is Crucial
Campus press run majorly by Campus journalists has been and continues to be the nexus where press giants we have today in Nigeria are raised. Campus journalists, mostly students, help to preserve the sanity and raise accountability discourse within the higher education institution communities.
Though their early warning reporting on students’ welfare, safety and perceived injustice continue to reduce inequality, injustice within the system. Though we must acknowledge that like what obtains in the larger society, a few of them engage in unethical practice out of youth exuberance and need to break the news first. But the occurrence of this is slowing down as many NGOs now invest in training of this next generation and young journalists who are being nurtured in these academic communities.
The crackdown of press freedom within Nigeria higher institutions does not only have a negative effect on the future of journalism in Nigeria, as many student practitioners are becoming weary and giving up, the impact continues to discourage whistleblowers and encourage corrupt practices as offenders get away.
Tell tales are everywhere
While the crackdown did not start today, the recent events are worrisome. Early this year, Ogunshile Olanshile, the president of University if Ibadan campus Journalism association and his colleague were harassed and assaulted while covering the swearing-in of newly elected Students Union Government executives despite the fact that they had official invitation. Few weeks after, the university announced the expulsion of two students who were involved in fees must fall in the same university
Video: Harassment of President of University of ibadan campus Journalists Association
Campus journalists express mixed feelings, though experience differ
In conversation with campus journalists across the nation, there is a general palpable fear among the majority as the crackdowns could extend beyond limit. Many of those who agreed to share experiences requested anonymity because of fear of persecution.
A voice from University of Benin, who requested to be anonymous says “The state of press freedom at UNIBEN, and in many Nigerian campuses, remains precarious. While student press organizations like ACJ UNIBEN operate with full constitutional independence, this freedom is often tested whenever a story challenges authority or exposes sensitive issues within departments or the university administration.” The source concluded “The university tolerates student journalism. But in practice, it tends to become less tolerant the moment campus journalists report on allegations involving powerful individuals, especially those close to the management,”
In Uthman Dan Fodio University Sokoto (UDUS) the situation is not different, any form of story the management feels is constituting a reputation damage, especially those that are published in national newspapers often get the student a summon from the Management. I have had issues on some of my published articles with the management, says a student’s journalist from the institution.
At the University of Port Harcourt, a campus journalist who requested for anonymity shared “The Press information is slightly being controlled, though many of the stories which the University do not feel threatened by are allowed to pass”.
Another campus journalist from University of Jos who also sought to be anonymous shared “We used to have a strong campus press known as “UniJos Echo;” which was very open and direct about issues but our new Vice chancellor had banned any activities of press within the university
A view from Cross State university of Technology now University of Cross River state “Students journalists while doing their job are often confronted with challenging authority. This comes with reprisal”.
Ogunshile , from university of Ibadan shared ‘The situation is worrisome as attacks on press freedom within our community is increasingly hostile”
From Obafemi Awolowo University, the situation is slightly different. According to Adedoyin Oguntade, a campus journalist “Act of repression from the management is minimal. the management does not make the habit of clamping down on press freedom here”
David Tijesuni, of university of Ibadan, Abeokuta campus says “Here Press freedom is endangered. The harassment is not only limited to School management, even Student union Executives are involved” Concluding, David shared “Due to admonition from senior colleagues that “no story is worth your life” campus journalists now employed diplomacy”
Intimidation protocol used by School management
Aside from fear of expulsion, the university often demands some reports be taken down not because of inaccuracy, but due to “procedural reasons” that were never formally explained” says a student Journalist from the University of Benin. Another tactic is Universities do not encourage the existence of campus journalism at all. This is the case of many private universities and some state or federal universities.
In many states and private higher institutions, only departmental publications which are highly regulated are allowed. No campus press or students’ journalism associations are allowed.
School management’s fear, authority affirm…
No house owners want his building set on fire. In many higher institutions in Nigeria, management have their own concerns for limiting press freedom. Some of the common concerns have to do with reputation damage that may affect the institution’s ratings
More also it is also very clear students’ governance within the higher institutions are also factionalized and politicized and there are no guarantees this may not affect student journalists reporting so it is expedient to monitor such. The reporters sought opinion of many universities journalism educators who had held administrative positions or are still holding one, only two responded.
For Dr Olorunyomi of Yaba College of Technology, “Freedom of expression is minimal in my institution. There are publications produced by students but I ensure that stories are not against the interest of the management.” When asked if there is a management support for campus press, she responded “No. We have a press club but it’s not effective. We are planning to resuscitate it”
Dr Oyeleye Abiodun, a former HOD of Mass communications department at Caleb University, a privately owned university, also shared “Our school does not have a student -led, independent publication system. What we have are training publications. Run by the department” When asked why was campus press led by students not allowed or encouraged, Dr Oyeleye opted to remain silent
Media C-suite Executives who were Ex-campus journalists, media rights advocates kick
We reached out to Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Media c-Suite leader and Executive Director of MDCN, and here is what he says “suppression of campus journalists undermines students’ professional development, violates their fundamental rights to expression, and discourages future careers in journalism” On what is the best way forward Lekan Otufodurin suggested “School management should embrace transparency, due process, and open communication rather than censorship, noting that accountability strengthens institutions rather than weakens them”
Kabir Adejumo on the hand has this to say “Silencing campus journalists undermines universities’ core mission to nurture critical thinking, accountability, and civic responsibility, instead fostering fear and self-censorship. When institutions meant to model transparency resort to censorship and intimidation, they not only erode press freedom but also weaken the democratic values they should be instilling in future leaders.”
AbdulRasheed Hammad, an investigative freelance journalist and lawyer says “This climate of fear created by higher institutions management against campus Press freedom will discourage campus journalists from pursuing hard-hitting reporting, undermine press freedom and transparency within higher institutions”
Mr Ayodele Longe, Media Rights Agenda Deputy Director says “Growing clampdown on campus journalism in Nigeria higher institutions erodes democratic values, silences student voices, and undermines the training ground for the country’s future watchdog journalists. It stresses that protecting student journalists is essential to safeguarding press freedom, transparency, and Nigeria’s democratic future.
Consequences and conclusion
Silencing campus media undermines transparency and fosters governance failures that jeopardize student safety and the overall quality of education. Such repression normalizes attacks on free expression, eroding the confidence of future journalists and weakening the culture of public debate across society.
Photo credit: design from Chatgpt
