Wole Soyinka Centre honors 10 investigative journalists at annual awards ceremony
Wole Soyinka Centre honors 10 investigative journalists at annual awards ceremony
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) recognised the outstanding work of 10 investigative journalists at the 18th edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) held at the Continental Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday.
The annual event, established in 2005, aims to commend the dedication of Nigerian investigative journalists.
In his opening remarks, Professor Rapo Sekoni, Board Chairman of WSCIJ, emphasized the importance of investigative reporting in the current democratic era, urging journalists to play a role in promoting democratic governance.
The Centre received entries from 218 journalists, resulting in 11 finalists across various categories such as print, online, radio, television investigative reports, editorial cartoons, and honorary awards for human rights defenders and lifetime journalistic excellence.
Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, the 2023 Judges’ Board Chairperson, praised Nigerian journalists for their passion and innovation amid challenges from both state and non-state actors.
The panel of seven judges screened 99 reports based on criteria focusing on corruption, human rights abuses, and crime in investigative journalism.
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Kemi Busari of Premium Times won the best investigative journalist award in the online category for his story titled “INVESTIGATION: ‘Baba Aisha Herbal Medicine’: The deadly concoction consumed by many Nigerians.”
Beloved John of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) was the runner-up in the online category with her story titled “London Graduate School: The ‘Degree Mill’ Selling Fake Honorary Doctorate to Africans.”
Sharon Ijasan of TVC News won the WSAIR TV category with a story titled “Human trafficking: sad realities of trafficked Nigerians in Libya, West Africa.”
Other awardees in various categories include Lami Sadiq of Daily Trust, Victor Asowata of The Will newspaper, Folashade Ogunrinde of TV360, Omolabake Fasogbon of ThisDay, Marcus Funtunmole of ICIR, Ayodele Adeniran of The Guardian, and Chukwuemeka Emenike of the New Telegraph.
At the awards ceremony, the late Professor Lai Oso was posthumously honored with the ‘Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence’ and the ‘Anti-Corruption/Human Rights Defender Award,’ received by his wife, Mrs. Abimbola Oso.
She encouraged Nigerian media to continue his legacy by upholding journalistic integrity.
Wouter Plomp, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Nigeria, represented by Jessica Odudu, highlighted the WSAIR as a beacon of encouragement for journalists.
The Kingdom of Netherlands expressed pride in collaborating with WSCIJ to protect civic space and combat misinformation.
Motunrayo Alaka, the Executive Director and CEO at WSCIJ, thanked the Netherlands Embassy for supporting the WSCIJ civic space guard program and the award for the next two years.
She emphasized that the awardees exemplify excellence and editorial integrity in their pursuit of truth, contributing significantly to the organisation’s goal as guardians of truth.