Investigative journalism took a leap as
the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative
Journalismhonoured journalists and others at the award presentation
ceremony of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting on world
anti-corruption day – 9 December. The event held at the NECA Hall, Ikeja,
Lagos.
Professor Ropo Sekoni, the WSCIJ Board
Chair opened the meeting. He spoke to the importance of investigative
journalism in Nigeria, stressing the criticality of support for existing
initiatives.
In her speech, Ms Ibim Semenitari, Rivers
State Commissioner for Information, who represented the Rivers State Governor,
Rt Hon Rotimi Ameachi mentioned that the Rivers state government chose to
support the award in recognition of its contribution to investigative
journalism in the country. According to her, “if the people will benefit from
democracy then the media must be on the side of the people and continue to act
as watchdog to the government.”
Representing the British High Commissioner
Dr Andrew Pacock, Mr Robert Fitzpatrick, the Commission’s Political and Press
Officer, said the media will forever play a role in holding the powerful to
account be it in government or in business. He emphasised that the British High
Commission was pleased to be associated with the Centre and its award programme
through its support of the online category.
Chairman of the 2013 WSAIR Judges’ Board
and Dean of the School of Journalism, Lagos State University, Professor Lai
Oso, presented the judges’ observations on the entries for 2013. He highlighted
the failings of many entries received and called on the media to do better
investigative reporting even as he charged the Centre to embark on intensive
training programmes.
The Lifetime Award for Journalistic
Excellence was presented to veteran journalist, Amma Ogan. In her acceptance
comment, she expressed her pleasure at the honour of being recognised and
appreciated by the Centre. Solumfeechi, Dr Chidi Odinkalu’s ten year old
daughter who received the Anti-Corruption Defender Award presented by Prof Wole
Soyinka on behalf of the human rights advocate, also read his acceptance speech
to the audience.
Ade Adesemoju of the Punch Newspaper with
his story, Court where alleged offenders are
rushedto jail; Emmanuel Ogala of Premium Times with his entry Jonathan awards $40 million contractto
Israeli company to monitor computer, Internet communication by Nigerians;
and Ayoola Kassim of Channels Television with the piece The Ikeja police
college received commendation certificates for their efforts.
The Local Government category was won by
Bassey Udo and Ini Ekott of Premium Times with their story - How FCT officials steal houses, lands
from Abujaindigenes in huge resettlement fraud and Nigeria’s misplaced talents, Asukwo Bassey’s
witty drawing published in Businessday Newspaper won in the cartoon category.
The VirginityTest, a 13-series
work by Temitayo Famutimi of Punch Newspaper emerged winner in the Print
category while Segun Elijah was runner-up in the same category with his entry
titled The Poachers Called Keepers published in National
Standard Magazine.
The duo of Ruona Agbroko-Meyer and Ini
Ekott emerged winner in the Online category with their story How Nigeria Squanders Millions on
Generators its ForeignMissions don’t Need while Tobore Ovuorie
went home with the runner-up prize in the category with her story - Gravely ill patients die queuing to
see Nigeria’s fewspecialist doctors.
The Punch Newspaper’s Stanley Ogidi was a
star indeed as his entries, A Schoolin the Heart of Lagos
and Two Bridges, One City were declared runner-up
and winner in the Photojournalism category.
Aderonke Ogunleye of Premium Times won her
part won the Sports category with her 2-part piece titled How Nigeria’s sports commission
officials enriched selves, and cheatparalympians.
The 2013 WSCIJ-Nigerian Investigative
Reporter of the Year, which is the overall prize of the award programme, went
to the team of Ruona Agbroko-Meyer and Ini Ekott for their outstanding story - How Nigeria Squanders Millions on
Generatorsits Foreign Missions don’t Need.
The
winners received an award plaque, a backup computer hard drive and a cash prize
of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000) each. The runners-up were given a
cash prize of N50, 000 (Fifty Thousand Naira Only) and a backup computer hard
drive each. The overall winners also took home framed plaques and an additional
N50, 000. All finalists received a commendation certificate.
Prof
Wole Soyinka in his keynote address urged the Centre and its supporters to keep
up the fight. He however prayed for the grace for continuation in the fight
against corruption. According to him, the menace of corruption and impunity
always fight back. After him, Ms Toyin Akinniyi, a programme officer with the
Centre gave the vote of thanks.
The
award presentation event which had over three hundred people in attendance
featured media practitioners, lawyers, teachers and students of journalism;
leaders of the civil society, political officers, members of the diplomatic
corps, as well as representatives of corporate institutions.
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ABOUT THE AWARD
The Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative
Reporting was first held in October 2005 to encourage the development of an
investigative tradition in the Nigerian media through rigorous scrutiny of
human rights violations, regulatory failures and corruption in the public and
corporate sectors of the nation’s life. It has so far rewarded 65 finalists out
of which there are 36 ‘Soyinka Laureates’ and 29 runners-up. It has also
honoured 4 investigative journalists of the year and 12 honorary awards
recipients.
ABOUT THE CENTRE
The WOLE SOYINKA CENTRE FOR INVESTIGATIVE
JOURNALISM (WSCIJ) is a non-governmental organisation with a vision to
stimulate the emergence of a socially just community defined by the ethics of
inclusion, transparency and accountability through support to journalists.
Initially known as the Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting Award (WSIRA), the
change in name became necessary in 2008 to reflect the intentions of the
coordinators to embrace a more robust line of activities that have greater
capacity for engendering the right values of investigative journalism in the
Nigerian media. The Centre is named after Professor Wole Soyinka in recognition
of his life-long work in support of the freedom of expression, freedom to hold
opinion, and freedom to impart them without fear or favour and without
hindrance or interference.
ABOUT THE CENTRE
The WOLE SOYINKA CENTRE FOR INVESTIGATIVE
JOURNALISM (WSCIJ) is a non-governmental organisation with a vision to
stimulate the emergence of a socially just community defined by the ethics of
inclusion, transparency and accountability through support to journalists.
Initially known as the Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting Award (WSIRA), the
change in name became necessary in 2008 to reflect the intentions of the
coordinators to embrace a more robust line of activities that have greater
capacity for engendering the right values of investigative journalism in the
Nigerian media. The Centre is named after Professor Wole Soyinka in recognition
of his life-long work in support of the freedom of expression, freedom to hold
opinion, and freedom to impart them without fear or favour and without
hindrance or interference.
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