Crime Editor, New Telegraph, Juliana Francis who recently won three awards at the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) has named her newsroom heroes, mentors and role models who she praised for their contributions to her career success.
Francis won the Defence Reporter, Power Reporter and Human Rights Reporter of the Year categories. She paid tributes to those she named in her Facebook post on Monday.
She previously worked in The Sun, Newswatch and Compass
The tributes are reproduced below:
@Ayodele Samuel Ojo (Editor) is my career builder, editor and mentor of the year 2020.
I have tried to resign, sick and tired of journalism, but he kept me there with his words of wisdom.
He makes me believe that there’s no story I couldn’t pursue.
He has, several times, personally sponsored my investigations and other journalists sef.
It was due to his encouragements and efforts that I won the NMMA Power Reporter of the Year.
I had stopped the investigation halfway because of funds, but then had to fund and ensured the story was realised.
I cherish all your suggestions. They are gold.
Thank you, my editor
Juliet Bumah (Sunday Editor) is my female editor of the year 2020.
She’s my ‘encourager,’ my pillow to cry on, a shoulder to lean on and the ears that don’t get tired of listening to my tales of woes.
Chai, I can cry ooo. Lol.
She’s part of the reasons I still continue to be in journalism.
If she’s not tired, why should I get tired?
Every time I sight her smiling beautiful face, I get stronger and I feel like I can move mountains.
She’s not just beautiful, she has a nice soul.
If I was a guy….hummmm
Geoffrey Ekenna (Deputy Editor) is my newsroom angel of the year 2020.
Don’t mind his newsroom war cry oooo, all na sharaka!
Beneath that gragra as the newsroom general lies a heart of gold.
Abiodun Bello is my best features writer, trainer and worth emulating journalist of the year 2020.
He hardly gets angry and often full of smiles and laughter.
No matter how daunting the task before him, he would smile and sail through it all.
I get tired just watching him work.
No matter how many times he corrects you, if you make the same mistake, he’ll patiently corrects you again.
I have my reasons for keeping close to him like a leech. After late Waheed Bakare, this guy is the next on my list. I learn every day from him.
Isioma Joseph Madike is my newsroom mentor of the year 2020. Ask him anything to make your story better, he would sit down to explain.
Appolonia Adeyemi ( Head, Health Desk) is my role model of the year 2020.
I so much love her patience and tolerance.
She can stomach a lot of nonsense and still keeps smiling.
I keep asking myself how she manages to keep cool in the newsroom in the midst of a storm.
I wish I can be like her…
