The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, has announced plans to honour distinguished alumni who recorded outstanding achievements at the 2025 Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA) and the 2025 Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Arc. Dr. Babatunde Adekoyejo Jolaoso, was formally briefed on the achievements by the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Wasiu Tejuoso.

Dr. Jolaoso is the first alumnus of the 46-year-old institution to be appointed Rector.

According to the institution, the award-winning alumni have once again projected MAPOLY as a leading centre for the training of media and communication professionals, reinforcing its reputation for producing graduates of national relevance and professional competence.

Among those to be honoured is Olasunkanmi Akinlotan of The PUNCH, who emerged Aviation Industry Reporter of the Year at the NMMA 2025, in recognition of his incisive reporting and in-depth analysis of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Also listed is Dare Olawin, also of The PUNCH, winner of the Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the Year at the NMMA 2025, for his consistent and impactful coverage of the energy sector.

Similarly, Johnson Idowu of The PUNCH was recognised at the 34th Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) 2025, where he won the Lagos State Government Prize for Reporting Lagos State, following his coverage of governance and development issues in the state.

From the Nigerian Tribune, Ifedayo Ogunyemi clinched the Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Reporter of the Year at the NMMA 2025. Ogunyemi, a former editor of the department’s training newspaper, MAPOLY Echo, was commended for his professionalism and accuracy in reporting defence and security matters.

The Polytechnic also commended Sodiq Ojuroungbe, a Senior Investigative Journalist with BusinessDay, whose performance in 2025 earned him multiple honours. Ojuroungbe emerged DAME Health Reporter of the Year, won the NMMA Newspaper Reporter of the Year, and finished as Runner-up at the CJID Health Reporter of the Year Awards.

Commending the awardees, the Rector described their achievements as a source of pride to the institution, praising the Department of Mass Communication for producing graduates whose professional excellence continues to bring honour to MAPOLY.

He reaffirmed the Management’s commitment to supporting academic departments in producing competent and ethical professionals, while urging current students to draw inspiration from the alumni’s achievements and uphold the values of excellence and integrity.