Interview: “When You Know the Truth, Never Be Silent” – Praise Olorunfemi, Former AFAS Press Managing Editor

Oluwatayo Ogundare

In this interview, we take a deep dive into the world of Praise Olorunfemi, former AFAS Press Managing Editor. He reflects on his journey both in AFAS and NASELS Press, how he managed various demanding positions in two distinct LPOs in different sessions, and what he looks to accomplish as a journalism-skilled graduate.

Can we get to know you?

My name is Praise Olorunfemi. I was born in Suleja in Niger State, and I hail from Ómin village, Yagba West Local Government, in Kogi state. However, I was bred in Lagos state, and I studied English Language, with an emphasis on Literature, at the University of Ibadan. As an undergraduate, having joined AFAS Press in 100 level, I served as the Sports Desk Editor in 200 level, doubled as Managing Editor and Deputy Editor-in-chief in both AFAS Press and NASELS Press respectively in 300level. Still maintaining the post in AFAS Press in 400level, I became the Editor-in-Chief of NASELS Press Organisation. I also served as a UCJ Senator representing AFAS Press for two years consecutively. I love learning new things, I am a naturally curious person, however, I am a tech and gadgets enthusiast, and I love music, emphasis on Classical music.

Tell us about your journey into campus journalism and why AFAS Press? What motivated your decision to join the press?

My journey into campus journalism is interesting. I ventured into Campus Journalism with no intention of becoming a campus journalist, I just felt the need to try my hands on something, in terms of writing. I believe I am not much of a creative writer if I am not writing poetry, but I just wanted to write. So, I felt I should explore non-fiction writing and the press had just that platform, and I signed up for it.

I remember being placed on the Politics Desk when I got into AFAS Press, Oluwatobiloba Odeyinka, UCJ’s 35th President, under his tutelage told me, being a press man was beyond just writing non-fiction. I remembered that moment vividly in my thought right now. we were at the quadrangle that day, and one of the statements he impressed on me was “you must have a nose for news.”

All these were in 100 level. So, when I got to 200 level, my Editor-in-chief then, Miss Ololade, asked him if I could handle the sports desk, I merely answer yes because I have been thought to never answer ‘no’, it felt like a really really tight corner for me. Being an editor on sports desk really opened me up. It was very challenging for me internally, because, I was feeling new just yesterday, and today I am an Editor. I had two desk members: Taiwo Lawal, the current Deputy Editor-in-chief of AFAS Press, and Veronica Giwa who later became my successor, and Lawal made it clear that he looked up to me as a writer. I felt that pressure and I had to pull off a number of last hour articles, but it was worth it in the end. Although Veronica was my senior academically, I saw her grow in the Press, and Lawal also rose through the ranks. I thank Jesus for that.

And why AFAS Press? It was the first to come. The first to hit my consciousness, because I was far from school, metaphorically. The press brought me closer to school both metaphorically and literally, especially in terms of proximity.

What motivated me? I wanted to write non-fiction. I remembered I joined Okigbo Poetry Club, now The Poetry Club, but I needed something more social drastic and direct, something beyond aesthetic, and the Press gave me just that.

Being a member of AFAS Press, a faculty with so many dramas especially in the political sphere requiring the press to be on their toes mostly, how will you describe the experience?

Hmn, the experience has been some sort of a rollercoaster. The Faculty of Arts seem to have this notoriety for dramas, aka vawulence. The administration without much drama or almost no drama was Esther’s regime, the regime preceding Mojuba’s regime, succeeding Akoem’s regime. These aforementioned regimes mentioned were typified with serious controversial issues that made me conclude that the country as a whole still has a very long trek to a sane state’s civility. Although the controversy during the Esther regime can be classified as one of the most absurd, the drama was subtle as two constitutions were operated in one association during her tenure, which is like I hinted earlier — a theatre of absurdity. The experience has been one helluva of a ride once again.

Who are those campus journalists that you admire and inspire you with their works?

I don’t even know how to approach the question. I am not the type that is normally given to favorites, nevertheless, I appreciate good works. Being a campus journalist, what inspires me is the problems on ground, and the urge to critically talk about these problems. But I also respect a lot of campus journalists, and trust me, if I start mentioning their names here, that is what we will do with the rest of this discussion.

How have you been able to balance a Campus Journalists with your academic life and dabbling into other activities on campus?

Well, for me, it was not even something I actually gave a thought, and I will not advice anyone to treat their academics as I treated mine. Because in my own case, the press is one of the things that held me up to this point, the banality in the whole system got to me, but I felt stuck, I just had to do the academics. So, the campus Journalism was the grease, and for other activities on campus, it just came natural for I have always been a very active human being from onset. I used to be one of those children and teenagers in church that would belong to the teenage church and still served in the youth or adult church at the same time. I did not really think of it as something, just set the task in order or urgency and follow the lineup, don’t break the rank and that was the way I ordered everyday.

What would you say were the biggest achievements and challenges as a pressman?

Achievements, interestingly, I entered the press without any ambitions, whatsoever. Nevertheless, I think my biggest achievement as a pressman is people, and my biggest challenge still remains people. Let me leave at that, this is literally a whole book.

Tell us the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite? Your most challenging and most memorable?

My first story was in 2021, I covered the manifesto defence of aspirants for the position of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. I wrote two stories on that alone. The story is on AFAS Press website, and the last, I think it is an editorial, probably the last for the 2023/2024 session for NASELS Press. And I have written a whole lot of stories from sports to news, to entertainment, to health, opinions, features, politics, one satire like that, and editorials, lots of editorials across AFAS Press, NASELS Press and the UCJ’s website. I can hardly tell any challenging story, and for the most memorable, well, a lot are memorable to me, but I think the story about the locked books in the Department of English Library is one. Then a story on the Mike Okiro Centre, and one particular sports story the Deputy Editor-in-chief could not stop talking about then. There’s just a host of memorable stories.

Having served under four E-in-Cs in AFAS Press, which will you say is your most memorable?

Literally, all of them. Ololade treated us like a big sister. We were like her siblings. For Mashika, pheeew, 11:54 pm, I will still get calls from Mashika, telling me to send in the second article for my desk. Then for Foyin, oh God, she exercised a lot of patience with me, sometimes I can hear her voice…”Praissse what of…” Then finally for the last Editor-in-chief I served under in AFAS Press, he is a wonderful person to work with, honestly. If Olanshile says, “we are doing this, and we are getting it done,” I even doubt it sometimes, but we eventually get it done. Although he claims merely remembering my name alone gives him PTSD, he cannot do without me. Picking the most memorable is honestly a very hard one for me. If I have the chance to serve under any of them again, I’d jump at it with speed.

Is journalism something you’ll love to venture into after school?

Originally, not at all, and now, I am not sure. I do not plan to, however, I am having this urge to go into making documentaries. Nevertheless, I am not absolute at not practicing journalism after school. I am leaving myself flexible, as long as I can make impacts (finances highly inclusive).

If you were to take all you have done as a campus journalist and pick a single memory from your career so far, what would it be?

A single one? I will say as someone that was as active as possible in both administrative and editorial aspects, that will be difficult to do. Is it covering the protests completely in both rain and sun? Or lecturers confrontations and physical victimisation, threats with SDC to take down articles the lecturer himself confirms to be true? Or planning for physical workshops for members to the point of falling sick and visitors showed up more than the members? Or having to rewrite articles for like two desks and still putting the bylines of the CJs, aside Editorials that must be ready? And so many more, picking a single memory is quite an herculean task

How does it feel like leaving an organization where you practically moved through the hierarchy? How does it feel to leave?

Well, everything that has a beginning surely has an end. I knew this day is inevitable and it is always a day I wondered what it would look like. However, knowing that I’m leaving AFAS Press in good hands that I believe will do better than mine, the feeling is nothing short of a fulfilling satisfaction. And yes, definitely, I would have that nostalgic feeling every now and then, especially when I see anything that reminds me of AFAS Press, and the way it stands. I am afraid that remembrance will be almost too constant.

Are you a book or movie person?

Both

Who are your top three writers and what are your top three favorite books?

Well for this, I cannot really say, because I am quite open and flexible and I read from a wide range. When I started reading, I started with gospel literatures, for example, I love radical writers like A. W Tozer. I read books written by scientists about their world views on science and religions, down to books bordering around human cognitive behaviours and psychology. Tim LaHaye’s Why You Act the Way you Do, to normal literature texts, tore up my curiosity on human behaviours, psychology and emotions, down to book on leadership, and sometimes human anatomy books, I just read what I find and is good.

Then for Favourite books, there are a lot of favourite books, however, for notable ones that had conscious effects on me, I will mention two : John Ortbeg’s Stepping Out of the Boat, and John Bevere’s The Bait of Satan. Then maybe Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power, please don’t judge me.

Then for movies too, well, I love animations and cartoons, weirdly I hate manga movies— that thing is only good for adverts. But if I am forced to mention my top 1 movie, I will mention “Kung fu Panda”. I am yet to get tired of watching that movie all over again. Then I love movies that are documentary-like or are even documentaries. Then for a third… I can’t pick, I just love good movies.

If not campus journalism, what would you have been so involved in during your stay as a UITE?

It would have been The Poetry Club, formerly Okigbo Poetry Club, and one society I cannot mention now because I chose campus journalism. So, it must have been something, maybe a chess club or so, I cannot really tell.

What are the lessons you’ve picked over the years as a Campus Journalist?

If you will hold anyone accountable by any standards, make sure you as an individual also live by those standards. Anything short only endorses hypocrisy which is the second twin of doom that eats up our values as a community.

What are the changes you’ll love to see in Campus Journalism going forward?

The quality of commitment and realising the vitality of campus journalism on the part of present campus journalist and potential campus journalist.

Any parting words for the campus journalists you’ll be leaving behind?

Be true to yourself, be true to God, be true to the general conscience of the humanity. When you know the truth, never be silent. By all means, make sure it is made public, directly or indirectly, and the Divine will always be behind you.