By Mayowa Adeniran |
Isine Ibanga, an investigative journalist and Editor with The Next Edition, has won the award for the best 2019 investigative reporter in Nigeria.
The 14th edition of the Wole Soyinka award, put together by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, had 13 journalists vie for awards in different categories for their works in the last one year.
Ibanga, with his two-part serial “How Bribe Taking Security Operatives/Gangs Force Nigerians to Pay Dearly for Food”, also emerged as the winner of the online category.
Also at the online category, Chikezie Omeje of International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) emerged runner-up in the category for his story “Million meant for combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria end up in private pockets” while Damilola Banjo of Sahara Reporters was commended in the category for her four-part serial “Blood-Thirsty Demons of Zamfara”.
Samson Folarin of Punch won the print category for his nine-part investigative report “Certificate, plagiarism, scandal rocks UNIZIK”, which revealed an academic fraud, intrigues, poor governance and subterfuge involving, Peter Ekemezie, who masqueraded as a “scholar” for years. Chinwe Agbeze of the Sun Newspaper emerged runner-up for her two-part investigative serial “Corruption ruins FG’s N7bn Unity Schools’ security project”. Chinwe was commended in the category in 2017 and was runner-up in the same category in 2018. Oladimeji Ramon of Punch was commended for his story “Lagos Mobile Court Where the Innocent, Guilty are Sent to Prison”.
For her five-part entry “Alleged Police Extra-Judicial Killing of Madam Basirat Akinmushire’’, Mary Abayomi-Fatile of Radio Nigeria was the only reporter recognised in the radio category. She was commended for her report. Whereas, there was no winner in the television category, Sharon Ijasan of Television Continental (TVC), a 2018 winner of the category, emerged runner-up for her two-part report, “Child rights, labour laws violated by Chinese companies”. Samuel-Wemimo Bukola, also of TVC was commended for her investigation “Depression and Suicide”.
In the photography category, Odutayo Odusanya of Punch emerged runner-up for his visual story “Child Labour”. He was runner-up in the photo category in 2015. Saheed Olugbon, also of Punch was commended for his photo “Fifteen Years after Retirement, Struggle Continues”. Also, in the category, Ayodele Adeniran of Guardian was commended for his photo entry “Pupils lament pain, long trek in search of knowledge”.
Albert Oham of the Sun Newspaper was commended for his cartoon “N13.5 Million Sitting Allowance for Senators” published in the Sun Newspaper.
The winners and runners-ups got cash prizes of N100,000 and N50,000 respectively, plus a certificate of commendation. In addition, winners got award plaques, and will proceed on an all-expense-paid international study tour in 2019. Reporters whose works were commended also got a certificate of commendation.
In his remarks, Ropo Sekoni, Board Chair, WSCIJ, congratulated the category winners and the honorary award recipients for the great work they do in making governance accountable.
The Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence was conferred on veteran photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole, for his outstanding contribution to journalism exhibited by his beautiful and evincing pictures particularly during the military era in Nigeria and his dedication to mentoring younger photojournalists.
The Human Rights Specialty of the Anti-Corruption Defender Award went to Amnesty International Nigeria for its remarkable voice against human rights violations and oppressive laws, and its efforts to defend freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the presentation of award to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was suspended to align with protest against the repression of freedom of speech in recent times, especially the incident between the Department of State Security (DSS) and Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, on Friday 6 December.
