Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim is a 22-year-old award winning star who recently won the Campus Journalist of the Year by Youths Digest, a pro-youth initiative. In this interview, Ishaq-Ringim, a 1st year student of Economics at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, a Registered Nurse, Political and Public Affairs Analyst, speaks of his passion.
By Hussaini Garba Mohammed
What is your career path?
I am from Zaria, Kaduna State. I was actually born in Zaria, so was my mom and my dad, the Ringim is basically a patronymic derived from my grandfather’s name who happens to be from there but also lived the most active part of his life in Zaria.
I am a graduate of School of Nursing Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria where I was an active student unionist, I also volunteered in some community-based organizations while in school. Upon graduation, I had a stint in the public service space for a year as Personal Assistant to the Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board. I am now an undergraduate at Ahmadu Bello University studying Economics through the university’s Distance Learning Centre. Also, I am a juvenile politician and development advocate.
You recently became the overall winner of the Campus Journalism Awards (CJA2021), are you excited?
Well, it was an exciting feeling to be honest. I didn’t know how to react because I was overwhelmed so I immediately did Sujudush Shukur (prostrated to thank Almighty Allah), and that helped me to calm down. I was also surprised knowing very well the quality and exceptional nature of the entries that were submitted especially by students of journalism from all over the country and the fact that I do not come from a journalism background.
The thing about CJA that interests me the most is the process through which the winner of the Campus Journalist of the Year Award is determined. On the eve of the award ceremony, all finalists are usually instructed to write an essay on a particular topic and submit before the next morning. This year, the topic was “The Role of Media in Troubling Times”. After submitting the articles, finalists then converge for a workshop in the morning where they are required to defend the articles, they write through a one-minute verbal presentation in the presence of a panel of renowned journalists who subsequently grade and determine the winner of the grand prize.
This year’s CJA however, came with an interesting twist. The winner was not determined at the workshop but at the venue of the award ceremony where a shortlist of 5 finalists was made and all 5 were required to re-defend their articles through another one minute and thirty seconds presentation in front of all attendees of the award ceremony and a new panel. The new panel graded the presentations and Alhamdulillah, I emerged victorious. This process I find absolutely interesting!
What was it you wrote about?
The title of my entry is “My Naija Experience” which is a widely published opinion article. In a situation defined by heightening hateful and divisive rhetoric that dominated the national discourse which were catalysed by toxic regionalism and ethnic jingoism. I felt the need to calm the polity by writing an article that focussed and sought to make Nigerians reminisce and reflect over certain life events that portrayed our deep “Nigerianess” and I enjoined everyone to join me in narrating what I termed “Our Naija Experiences”. Resultantly, it morphed into a campaign that sent many into the realm of reminiscence and deep reflection in search for detribalized moments in our lives and many remembered those moments. And for many, those moments represented their happiest experiences so far and the fact that Nigeria can work for us all!
To answer your second question, I think my areas of interest will remain the same. I shall continue to write pieces covering politics, security, economy, education and occasionally, health.
What challenge do most young campus journalists face?
I think the challenge is usually that of time management and the dilemma of balancing between academics and journalism. Although not a core campus journalist myself as I only do political/public affairs analysis, I believe a good understanding of and adherence to time management skills would help a lot in that aspect. Another challenge campus journalists face is resistance, sometimes even from their institutions’ management. But a strict adherence to the ethics and tenets of good and objective journalism would always serve the purpose of protecting you as a campus journalist even in the face of such complications.
What advice do you have for campus journalists who would want to practice in the mainstream media?
Well, my advice is for campus journalists to always adhere to the principles of objectivity, consistency, excellence, and ethics while practising whatever form of campus journalism. They say what is worth doing is worth doing well, hence, we should all strive for a stellar reputation.
How do you combine study with writing as a campus journalist?
I am a political and public affairs analyst, so I don’t do core journalism that may require too much time and energy. I only write opinion columns. And it appears easy and less challenging to me because I consider writing as part of me. It doesn’t affect, disturb or disrupt my academics in any way. It’s all about simple time management like I said earlier and I think I have been able to practice that quite well.
