On Aug. 13, three HumAngle editors spoke at the TEDxUnilorin event on investigative journalism, cultural stereotypes, and identity.
The editors, Kunle Adebajo – Investigations Editor, Anita Eboigbe – Managing editor, and Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu – Staff writer, all shared different stories on the theme, Roots.
The event was hosted at the Performing Arts Theatre of the host University of Ilorin, in Kwara State, North-central Nigeria.
TEDx is a grassroots initiative created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover “ideas worth spreading.” A TEDx event is a local gathering where live TED-like talks and performances are shared with the community and are hosted on a community to community basis.
‘Kunle Adebajo, opening the event, talked extensively on the importance of investigative reporting and documenting stories towards people finding their roots. ‘Kunle, during his presentation, used some of his experiences as an investigative reporter as a point of reference, including visits to Borno State in Northeast Nigeria, Niger Republic, and how he has been able to tell better stories by knowing the people he writes about.
Anita Eboegbe, HumAngle’s Managing Editor in her own presentation queried the absence of people in their ancestral homes over fears of spiritual elimination. Drawing parallels between the popular culture witchcraft franchises like ‘The Witcher’ and ‘Harry Potter’, she emphasises that stereotypes about Africans and our media representations will not be rightly documented unless Africans are interested in participating in their cultures. With a note of finality, Anita told the audience that they should “go home, your village people are not looking for you.”
Hauwa, on the other hand, enamoured the audience by telling a story about the Nupe people of North-central Nigeria, and how identity ego has impacted relationships even between people of the same ethnic group but in different parts of Nigeria. Hauwa said emphatically that while people are a part of their parents and ancestors’ stories, they can also be new people with their own experiences. She therefore advised that people should remember their roots but should not be defined solely by them.
Other speakers at the event were Adeola Ayoola – a pharmacist, Idris Munir – a biosystems engineer, Dr Aboyeji Adeniyi – a history researcher and teacher, Abdulrahman Yusuf – a cinematographer and culture curator, and Adeleye Fabusoro – an art maker and curator.
Adebayo Abdulrahman, the convener of TEDxUnilorin, told HumAngle that he is happy “we have been able to build a TEDxUnilorin Community and start a conversation about retelling our story as Africans.”
“It is important that we’ve been able to spark an unending conversation,” he adds.
Not the first time
This is not the first TEDx speaking appearance from a HumAngle staff member in 2021. Earlier on June 5, 2021, Muhammed Akinyemi, HumAngle’s Sub-editor, was a speaker at TEDxAdankolo in Kogi State, also in North-central Nigeria.
Muhammed’s presentation was on the role of Space Technology in solving security and developmental challenges for national development. The Adankolo event, themed ‘Borderless,’ explored the interconnectedness of the world we live in today and how we can adapt to it.
HumAngle supports induction of new campus journalists
While at the University of Ilorin, the HumAngle reporters also participated in the induction process of the Union of Campus Journalists, UNILORIN, where they educated the new inductees on journalism practices.
The event, which was held in the University’s campus area, was attended by the Chairman of the National Union of Journalists (Kwara State Chapter), Abdul-Lateef Ahmed; Dr Muhammad Kamaldeen Imam-Temim (representing the Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Patigi University, Kwara State, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji); Associate Professor Saudat Abdul-Baqii of the Department of Mass-Communication, University of Ilorin; the Managing Editor of HumAngle Media, Anita Eboigbe; the Investigations Editor at HumAngle Media, Kunle Adebajo; Sub-Editor at HumAngle Media, Muhammed Akinyemi and the Creative Director at ARTmosterrific, Mr Ishola Abdul-Wasiu.
‘Kunle Adebajo, using his campus experiences, spoke on the topic “Campus Journalism and Free Press: Uplifting Free Expression and Accountability.”
Muhammed Akinyemi, an alumnus of the union and the university, shared stories from his time as a campus journalist while talking on the topic: “Maximising Potentials as a Campus Journalist.”
Female campus journalists of the union would also have the privilege of free mentorship from Anita Eboigbe, who also spoke on “Promoting Women Roles in Journalism.”
The UCJ President, Adedimeji Quayyim, speaking after the event, said “we at the UCJ UNILORIN are incredibly glad to welcome the new cohort of journalists into our membership base, and we are glad more students are willing and deliberate to make an impact in the mass media through journalism in the campus.”
“We are deeply committed to the training and skill-set of our members, and this is why we are eternally grateful for HumAngle’s continuous support in furthering the objectives and goals of not only the UCJ UNILORIN as an organisation and to the institution of campus journalism as a whole. HumAngle has always championed the promotion of journalism in the grassroots, and we are pleased with the opportunity for female journos in our organisation to learn more about the relevance and significance of women roles in the mass media.”
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
