TheCable

Habeebulah Asudemade, a 400 level student of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan (UI), has won the fourth edition of the annual ‘Fisayo Soyombo Inter-University Essay Contest organised by the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), UI.

Asudemade beat more than 170 applicants, half of whom were students of universities other than UI, to clinch the first prize of N200,000 and an internship opportunity with a newspaper.

Damilare Ajiboye and Oludara Olaniyan, both students of UI’s Faculty of Law, emerged first runner-up and second runner-up respectively, the former getting a cash prize of N150,000 and the latter N100,000.

Certificates of honourable mention went to 10 other finalists, among whom were Abibat Orimoyegun of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Adegbite Joy of Bowen University, Ubah Chigozie of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Anzaa Msonter of Benue State University.

The contest required applicants to answer, in no more than 1,000 words, the question: “The Dire Need For Genuine National Development: Is Revolution A Solution?”

Receiving his award from Obianuju Okafor-Olorunmola, chairperson of the first UCJ inter-university essay contest in 2007, Asudemade expressed happiness with bouncing back from initial failure.

“Winning this essay contest is big deal for me, considering that I have been eyeing it since the last edition in 2018. I entered in 2018 but didn’t win. I’m happy to have bounced back this way,” he said.

“It’s a pleasure to rank top among over 170 entries from several universities. Interestingly, the ’Fisayo Soyombo Inter-University Essay Competition is highly regarded due to the calibre of people that have won it. These writers have been some of the best essayists the University of Ibadan has had in recent years. So, joining that league is a thing of immense joy.”

An inter-university contest for UCJ was first launched in 2007 by the executive council presided over by Soyombo. In the seven years that followed, the contest held only once, until Soyombo resuscitated it in 2015.

“It’s an honour to be the one to revive this contest and take it on as an annual pet project,” he said at this year’s ceremony.

“Back in 2007, with the help of the likes of Obianuju Okafor and Chinyere Chimodo-Okeh, we ran the inaugural essay contest. You can imagine my joy to have Obianuju, who presided over that committee in 2007, present the top three winners their prizes today, after 13 long years.”

In 2015, Omoya Simult, then a 100level student of UI’s Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Science, won the inaugural edition. Kunle Adebajo, then a 400level student of UI’s Faculty of Law, won the second edition in 2016. Kanyinsola Olorunnisola, then a final year student of the Department of Philosophy, UI, won the third edition.