I never knew winning an award can boost one’s connections and recognition until I emerged as the winner of the inaugural Lekan Otufodunrin Student-Journalists Award 2021, a national journalism contest, on May 10, 2021, during the month of Ramadan.
The joy of the announcement that Ramadan afternoon made me elated with those present at the virtual ceremony, including senior journalists. I wasn’t aware that the news went viral until I started receiving congratulatory calls from various parts of the country.
I have seen the news on various platforms on my emergence as the first winner of the competition. Though champions are champions, the first to wear the crown always feel more elated because he first enters to pave the way for others.
In life, there is motivation. Awards can motivate journalists to do more especially in a country like Nigeria where journalists are facing threats and harassment either directly or indirectly.
Meeting Otufodunrin
I first came across Mr Otufodunrin’s Media Career Development Network (MCDN) in late 2020 when my former organisation (workplace) made it mandatory for us to submit a story pitch before embarking on every assignment. On searching Google to find a good template of investigative reporting pitch, I saw that of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR’s) own published on the MCDN website.
Before then, I have been seeing him in one of our WhatsApp groups, Light Ray Media Training Group, where Mrs Lady E., mentors upcoming journalists. He also used to and still contribute and share educational stuff there.
Suddenly, an award, which was said to be the 5th named after him (Mr Lekan Otufodunrin) came up. As usual, I didn’t submit my entry early. I was not sure which of my stories I should send coupled with busy schedules as it was during school days. But I finally made up my mind to submit an ICT related story seeing the call for entry again and noticing that the deadline was fast approaching. I chose a single story out of the two-part series. I submitted and relaxed.
Making The Shortlist
My story titled “Investigation: How Nigerian states’ governments poorly interacted with citizens via emails during COVID-19 pandemic, despite ICT advancement (Part 1),” was shortlisted as number 2 out of the 5 nominated stories for the award.
From the shortlist, I thought that my story will not make the first position. My reasons were: one, a story by a colleague, Tobi Odeyinka which made the top 20 of best-published stories by Premium Times in 2020, was also on the list; two, a conflict story by Mohammed Yaqubu, now a reporter with FIJ, published by Humangle was amongst others.
More surprisingly, two colleagues: Fasilat of MAPOLY and Mohammed of IBBUL, and yours sincerely that made the top three out of five shortlisted journalists shared the same table at an anti-corruption workshop organised by SERAP with support from UK Aid held in Ikeja, Lagos in 2020 before the outbreak of the global pandemic.
Meeting at the shortlist looks more like a reunion for us after we once met at a workshop, one year ago as at the time of the award. But it doesn’t end there. Where does it end?
Becoming the Winner
My prayer was for me to shine at the award ceremony. Alhamdu lilLah, the Almighty Allah made me the winner: I was announced as the winner. Glory be to Almighty Allah
Whenever I am writing or working on a story, I make sure I have enough facts to support my findings in order to be very professional and avoid spreading fake news. And this is where truth has taken me today.
Yes, I am the champion of the inaugural edition of the Lekan Otufodunrin Students Journalists Award for outstanding student journalists. I was declared as the winner of the award in honour of Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Nigeria’s foremost media career coaching and mentoring organisation; President, Journalists for Christ; and former Editor at The Nation Newspaper, after beating 60 students drawn from various Nigerian tertiary institutions including the first varsity in Nigeria, (University of Ibadan, UI) and others like OAU, UDUS, UNILORIN, UNILAG, LASU and etc
The winners were announced by Mr Lekan Otufodunrin himself in descending order: from the last position to the first. I was carefully listening, like everyone. He announced the 5th, I was not the one. He proceeded to the 4th, still, I was not the one. He moved to the second runner up, my name was not mentioned. He announced the first runner up and it was still not me. After this announcement, we already knew who emerged as the champion. We just heard Mr Otufodunrin announcing “Mr Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is the overall winner of this inaugural award”. Suddenly, the virtual ceremony became mixed with celebrations.
Smiles, congratulatory messages, good wishes were raining from almost everyone present. Including some leading journalists in Nigeria. Colleagues from other varsities were also excited to learn that I was crowned as the champion.
Emerging as the champion of the inaugural edition of the Lekan Otufodunrin Student Journalists Award was very encouraging to me. It has paved the way for me to do more.
The only sad thing was that I was not present in person to receive the award because it was held virtually via zoom. However, in winning a competition, there is a great pleasure. More especially that this was my first journalism award.
Judges Report
Below is the judge’s comment on my winning entry for the award:
“The judge’s report for the award stated that the story by Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim on “How Nigerian State Governments Poorly Interacted with Citizens via Emails During COVID-19 Pandemic, Despite ICT Advancement” addressed a critical issue of public interest.”
“ Ibrahim’s winning piece looks at how the Nigerian government, in the face of the global pandemic, interacted poorly with citizens electronically despite numerous announcements and publications that the government has put in place to address people’s concerns and inquiries during the pandemic.
“The creativeness and uniqueness of the story take it ahead of other nominees who, to their best, also touched on challenges and failings by the government in their primary assignment.
“The story’s depth exposes government at all levels continuous lack of understanding of the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in ordinary citizens’ day-to-day lives,” the judges stated.
Read the full report as published here: https://mediacareerng.org/2021/05/10/muhammad-auwal-ibrahim-wins-otufodunrin-campus-journalists-award/
Recommendations
Heartiest congratulations Muhammad! Proud of you – Elizabeth Aderonke Esq., Media Career Development Network
Congratulations Auwal, we are proud of you – MD Lawal, Convener Arewa Agenda
The Award-Winning Story
The story was my first investigative piece for Abuja Business Reports, a newspaper I freelance with. However, the story was self-sponsored considering the wide gap in ICT literacy in Nigeria.
The story has since started making an impact. I wrote a follow-up story on the impact the first story made. It’s titled “After Edutorial report, Cross River, Borno states websites come alive” see the link below: (https://edutorial.ng/after-)edutorial-report-cross-river-borno-states-websites-come-alive/ )
I have never thought it would make the shortlist. But it was selected among the top five nominated stories by the erudite judges unknown to me. My attention was drawn to the nomination list by the President, National Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ), Mr Samuel Ajala in our national WhatsApp platform.
Speaking On behalf of All Winners, As The Champion
Not only missing receiving the award in person, but I also missed standing before veteran journalists and other professionals to give my speech as I did on behalf of all winners, being the champion.
However, it is better speaking virtually than not doing at all.
“Responding to winning the award, Ibrahim said he was delighted and stressed the need for journalism to be used to promote the public good.” Media Career Development Network reported.
Though I was brief, I urged journalists to take their time and do their work. I also told them, that the winning story took me about two-three months to finish. Therefore, there is no need for anyone to rush just to end up writing rubbish or fake news.
I emphasised that my fellow colleagues should be concerned about societal needs and not their selfish interests.
Furthermore, I congratulated all the shortlisted finalists, including the first runner up (Fasilat Oluwuyi) and the second runner up (Tobi Odeyinka).
Appreciation.
I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the organisers of this award: Ogbeni Olayinka Shehu and his late colleague for recognising and appreciating the efforts of upcoming journalists. This has served as an encouragement to me and all of us.
It might interest you to know that the award-winning story has won two more awards: West African Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) and ICIR Investigative Journalism Award, after this, all in 2021.
Also, to the judge(s) who is/are still unknown to me, for finding my story worthy of the 1st prize. Thank you, in case, you come across this.
Thank you Lekan Otufodunrin for your encouragement. Not forgetting @AbujaBizReports, thanks for giving me the platform. Thank you.
And finally to all newspapers that published this news (particularly, Muslim News Nigeria, BONews, and Media Career Development Network), those that shared the news of my emergence as the champion and those that fecilitated with me. I appreciate you all.
May Allah bless the award and guide me in my profession.
Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is the Champion of the Inaugural Lekan Otufodunrin Journalists Award 2021, fellow AIJC 2020, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. He can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com