Shola Ilesanmi: Winners Emerge At The First Memorial Writing Competition

Two students of the department of mass communication, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, have won the prize for the first edition of the Shola Ilesanmi memorial writing competition. 

Josephine Adetula, a 200-level student, won the first prize, while Taiwo Rebecca, a 300-level student, emerged as the first runner-up. 

Presenting the prize at the 15th public lecture of the National Association of Mass Communication Students, NAMACOS, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall(OBJ) on Tuesday, the late ace broadcaster wife, Mrs Damilola Ilesanmi, pledged her optimum support for the competition. 

Mrs Ilesanmi applauded NAMACOS for the memorial writing competition in honour of her late husband. 

The competition was initiated by NAMACOS, commemorating the late Shola, an alumnus who contributed immensely to the department’s growth and its students. 

Shola was an investigative reporter, British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, correspondent, and fact-checker, who died on Tuesday, the 1st of March, 2022, at the age of 36 following a brief illness.

Shola Ilesanmi started his journalism career at Echo Media (a campus journalism platform) and became an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience in broadcast, print, digital media, and public relations before his death.

Prize Recipients 

Speaking with CAMPUS REPORTER, Josephine Adetula described her emergence as winner of the first memorial writing competition commemorating Shola Ilesanmi as an honour. 

She added that she admired Shola Ilesanmi from afar and loved him, adding that he(the late Shola) had always challenged her to champion her writing skill. 

“I believe I can be like him in the future. I sincerely pray that God upholds his very beautiful wife and then always protects them.”

Similarly, Taiwo Rebecca, the first runner-up, stated that she felt happy receiving the prize, despite the short process of the competition. 

She said: “After the written article was submitted, I was asked some communication-related questions and then congratulated and asked to come for the price today.” 

She prayed that the lord would continue to uphold the deceased families, saying they should remain strong as the name of Shola Ilesanmi lives on.