By Amakoh Kelechi
Journalists and media organisations whose work stood out amongst many have emerged winners of the 21st Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) held at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The Nation Newspaper won the Babatunde Jose Newspaper of the Year award beating The Guardian and The Punch.
For the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year, Editor of The Nation, Gbenga Omotoso won the award which had The Punch’s Joseph Adeyeye and The Guardian’s Martins Oloja nominated.
Broad Street Journal’s Stella Sawyerr (Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture Reporter of the Year) while Ojo Abiodun of The Guardian (Ibrahim Shekarau Prize for Education Reporter of the Year).
Tell’s Akaeze Ubaka (NAFCON Price for Environment Reporter of the Year); Akpan Eyo of National Mirror (Conoil Prize for Energy Correspondent of the Year) and The Guardian’s Chukwuma Muanya won the Investigative Reporter of the Year and the Cecil King’s Prize for Print Journalist of the Year.
The entry, “Why govt, workers quarrel over PHCN”, which gave rare insights into why workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Federal Government were bickering over the agency’s privatisation won Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of the Year for Joke Kujenya of The Nation.
For its editorials on critical issues, The Nation’s Editorial Board won the prize for Editorial Writing. It had three of its editorials as finalists in the category: ‘Systemic rot’, ‘The real sacrifice’ and ‘A time to clean the Augean stables’.
Chikodi Okereocha of Tell, won three awards: Business Reporter of the Year, Maritime Reporter of the Year and the Telecoms Reporter of the Year. Olukorede Yishau, The Nation won the Intercontinental Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year.
Muyiwa Lucas of Tell won the Alex Ibru Prize for Investigative Reporter of the Year and the Abubakar Imam Prize for Features Writer of the Year.
BSJ’s Deputy Editor Helen Eni, emerged the Female Reporter of the Year and the Nigerite Prize for real Estate/ Construction Reporter of the Year while National Mirror’s Deji Ademigbuji won the Brand and Marketing Reporter of the Year.
Arukaino Umukoro (formerly of Tell) of The Punch won the Bashorun MKO Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year; and Abiola Odutola of BSJ won the Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the Year.
Also, the Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year was won by Isioma Madike (formerly of National Mirror);Adejuwon Soyinka of Tell won Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year and Sunday Adedeji of Tell emerged News Photographer of the Year Award