A Correspondent of The Punch Newspaper, Tunde Ajaja and Assistant Chief Producer of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Funke Fayemi are the winners of the 2020 National Academy of Science (NAS) Science Media Award.
Ajaja won the print category, while Fayemi is the winner of the broadcast category out of the 47 entries for the award.
Investigative Journalist and Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Nigeria, Fisayo Soyombo was the runner up in the print category, while Ms Nkoli Omhoudu of the African Independent Television was second for broadcast.
Ajaja is a second-time winner of the award, having won in 2016.
The Public Affairs Secretary of NAS, Professor Musbau Akanji announced the winners at the Award Dinner held in Lagos on Friday.
He commended the high quality of entries, noting that the scores for deciding the winners were very close.
The entries were assessed based on the following:
*Originality
*Relevance of topic
*Background research
*Language
*Creativity
*Knowledge of the writer on the issue of focus
The award in its tenth year is supported by Vitafoam.
Both Fayemi and Ajaja told Media Career that they were very glad to win the award and commended NAS for its continued support for the media on science reporting.
They spoke on the stories that won them the award and their determination to write more impactful stories.
FAYEMI; “You never know who is watching and when the reward will come”
“This award is most appreciated as it is coming for an area where I least expected- Science. I am truly humbled by this and give God all the glory.
“The production that earned me the Broadcast Science-Journalist of the year 2020 looked at how COVID-19 affected Antenatal. It was a production I did just like I always put my best into any programme I produce. It was a bit challenging in terms of getting interviews done and moving around as it covered Lagos and Oyo states. But in all, I made use of social media tools and technology available to me. Today, the rest is history. Just keep doing what you know best, you never know who is watching and when the reward will come.
“The contributions of The Nigerian Academy of Science is indeed apt at this time. This is an area of reporting that requires proper orientation for impact to be made in society. And with many more sponsors like Vitafoam Nigeria, Journalists will be trained in putting their thoughts together in logical scientific ways.
“I salute the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism under its Female Reporters Leadership Programme for giving me the needed supports towards this production. I am most grateful. And to my primary constituency, Voice of Nigeria, thanks for the platform, always.
“I dedicate this award to my late father, who was an astute businessman in his time, Chief Jonathan Bolarinwa Fayemi, JP. He thought me that hard work pays.”
AJAJA: “It is also a constant reminder that I need to do more.”
“It’s a great honour to win the highly prestigious NAS award for a second time. I want to thank the Academy for finding my entry worthy and for its commitment to rewarding excellence in science reporting.
“This initiative will not only encourage journalists to do more in that regard, but it will also enrich the discourse about science and highlight its place in national development.
“I would say I have largely been motivated by the need to address the solvable perennial problems bedevilling our country. I believe when the issues are highlighted and solutions are proffered, we might be getting closer to tackling them.
“This is central to the reports that won me the awards. In this case, the poor power supply problem is a national tragedy and I found it ironic that we have dams and hydropower stations that have been neglected. In return, the people suffer.
“Therefore, by identifying the dams, the abandoned stations and pointing at workable solutions, one would hope the authorities would get to work.
“Yes, it has. I would say it’s not just an indication that I’m on the right track with the kind of reports I do, especially as they resonate with the right audience, it is also a constant reminder that I need to do more.”
