Jelili Gbadamosi
The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY),has announced plans to honour outstanding alumni of its Department of Mass Communication for their remarkable performances at the 2025 Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA) and the 2025 Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
The decision followed a formal briefing by the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Wasiu Tejuoso, who presented details of the alumni’s achievements to the Rector, Arc. Dr. Babatunde Adekoyejo Jolaoso.
According to the institution, the award-winning journalists have once again demonstrated MAPOLY’s strength as a leading training ground for media and communication professionals, reinforcing its reputation for producing industry-ready graduates with national impact.
Among the alumni to be honoured is Dare Olawin of The PUNCH, who won the Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the Year at the NMMA 2025, in recognition of his consistent and in-depth coverage of the energy sector.
Also listed is Olasunkanmi Akinlotan of The PUNCH, who emerged Aviation Industry Reporter of the Year at the NMMA 2025, a feat attributed to his incisive reporting and analytical coverage of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Similarly, Ifedayo Ogunyemi of the Nigerian Tribune clinched the Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Reporter of the Year at the NMMA 2025.
A former editor of the department’s training newspaper, MAPOLY Echo, Ogunyemi was commended for his courage, professionalism and accuracy in reporting defence and security issues.
Management also applauded Sodiq Ojuroungbe, a Senior Investigative Journalist with BusinessDay, who recorded multiple successes in 2025. He emerged DAME Health Reporter of the Year, won the NMMA Newspaper Reporter of the Year award, and finished as runner-up at the CJID Health Reporter of the Year Awards.
In addition, Johnson Idowu of The PUNCH was honoured at the 34th DAME 2025, where he won the Lagos State Government Prize for Reporting Lagos State, following his impactful reportage on governance and development.
Commending the awardees, the Rector described their collective achievements as a source of immense pride to the institution, noting that their successes have brought honour and positive visibility to MAPOLY.
He further praised the Department of Mass Communication for consistently producing graduates whose professional excellence continues to stand out in the media industry.
Arc. Dr. Jolaoso urged current students to draw inspiration from the distinguished alumni and reaffirmed the Polytechnic’s commitment to strengthening its academic departments to produce competent, ethical and socially responsible professionals capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
