Journalists were denied access to cover the 45th Convocation Ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, sparking widespread criticism from media practitioners. Correspondents from major media houses, including the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Daily Trust, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), Nagarta Radio, and NTA Zaria, were denied access to the Mamman Kontagora Square, venue of the ceremony, despite presenting valid press credentials and accreditation tags issued by the university ¹ ² ³.
A security officer, identified as Mr. C.K., explained that the directive came from the Chief Security Officer, Malam Ashiru Zango, requiring journalists to obtain clearance from the Vice-Chancellor’s office before entry. The affected media personnel protested the move, insisting they had been duly accredited. The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) intervened and engaged Mallam Auwalu Umar, the university’s Director of Public Affairs, who assured them that efforts would be made to allow media coverage ¹ ².
The convocation ceremony, which features a pre-convocation lecture by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, and is expected to be attended by prominent individuals, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been marred by controversy ⁴ ⁵.
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