Over the years at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), there has always been an information gap among the students of the institution. However, there existed a media club, established and owned by the Department of Mass Communication, to train its students in the way of journalism, and help them grow in its practice. The club was named “OOU Press Club”. Regardless, this media club still could not bridge the information gap among the students, probably because that was not the aim and purpose of its establishment.
In the year 2016, a young man made the admission list into Olabisi Onabanjo University, to study Mass Communication, his name is Tolulope Aina. Tolulope Aina had already obtained a degree in Law and a National Diploma (ND) in Mass Communication at the Nigerian Institute of Journalists (NIJ) at the time he got admission into OOU. He was a prominent member of the NIJ Campus Mirror, and also the Entertainment Sub-Editor. Tolulope then joined the OOU Press Club in his first year on campus, at OOU. He noticed the information gap and felt the need to fill the lacuna. He came up with an idea, a vision, to solve the information problem on the campus, and pitched it to the leadership of the Press Club, but noticed that they weren’t receptive to his ideas, which made him leave the association in 2017 when he was already in his second academic year(200 level)
He then went on a look for people who could see from his perspective, buy into his ideas, and share in his vision, as he found himself four more people, whose names are; Inyang Michael (who was from the department of English), Ogunjimi Ayomikuni (Law), Adebanjo Oluwafunmike (Mass Communication), and Adejuyigbe Omokehinde( who was also from the department of English).
These five students embarked on a remarkable journey to solve a long-time problem facing the OOU Students’ Community. The journey was not so smooth for these students, as they had to go through some legal processes before they could call themselves an organization, as this was the rule in the institution at the time. The infant organization began its operation by publishing a page newspaper that contained majorly the campus news and occurrences. The newspaper grew to two pages as the publication grew. The registration requires some rigorous steps before it could be achieved, so the organization used to publish its newspapers under an already existing legal entity called the National Association of Akwa-Ibom State Students (NAAKISS-OOU), until the requirements for registration under the Students’ Affairs were met, and the organization officially registered and also became a legal entity in the school, in October 2017.
This organization was registered with the name; “OOU CAMPUS MIRROR”, by the founder, Tolulope Aina. The organization did not only become a legal entity in the school but also in Ogun State and Nigeria at large. The struggle didn’t end with registering the organization, as members suffered financial constraints when the only option to publish was to pay from their pockets, and still had to survive the harsh conditions of Ago-Iwoye, all from the same pocket. The newspapers were usually published on Saturdays at the rate of #10,000, and pasted on Sundays, on notice boards, lecture theatres, the school gate, etc, within and outside the main campus (PS), spreading even to the external campuses, such as (Ibogun, Shagamu, and Ayetoro Campuses).
Their publications were not restricted to newspapers, as they also used the internet (WhatsApp communities, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter now known as X accounts) to share and disseminate information to students. The struggle did not end there but continued, as members began to face threats, criticism, and intimidation from some groups of students who were not happy about the truthful nature of the organization. However, due to the legal standing of the organization, the students couldn’t help but form alliances and mend their ways.
The organization grew in membership, leadership, sponsorship, and even subscribers as it never ceased to give the people anything but accurate and balanced news and information. Students and companies began to bring in their adverts, which were enough to sustain the organization’s needs to the extent that the organization began to do weekly giveaways for every student who passed their quiz. The school management and the Students’ Union Government (SUG) would send invitations for the coverage of major campus events, invitations from the state government, etc. The organization through its influence and recognition in the school was able to host a big event, called the “ OOU Top Notch Merit Award” in 2019, alongside another association on campus.
Beyond information dissemination, Campus Mirror has served as a platform for helping students with dreams and ambitions attain their goals till today. It stands out among other media outlets in Olabisi Onabanjo University, with its unique strategy of covering, gathering, and reporting campus events. Since its establishment in 2017, the organization has reached over 100 members, 6 Successfully led administrations, with Tolulope Aina being the President/ Editor-in-chief for the 2018/19 administration, succeeded by Temidire Bada for the 2019/20 administration. Then Ayomikun Ogunjimi took up the mantle of leadership for the 2020/21 administration, after which Rahma Jimoh became the Editor-in-chief for the organization in 2022. She then handed over to Seyi Lasisi, a movie critic, who led the organization for another whole administration in 2022/23. And then comes the 6th and current administration, headed by Abdullah Salaudeen, under whose administration this history was documented.