By Rhoda Olorunfemi
Winners have emerged for the 2016 edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Reporting (WSCIJR) awards.
Editor of the TheCable, Fisayo Soyombo, won the ‘Nigeria Investigative Journalist of the year’ for the Online category with his story “Forgotten Soldiers”.
He beat Femi Owolabi also of TheCable’s, who was the runner up in the same category with his story; ‘The blight on humanity and the resilience of a people: The Maiduguri reality.’
Mojeed Alabi, Editor of the New Telegraph won the Print category with his two-part story; “Inside Nigeria’s N201.79bn Budget of Fraud’, published on January 30 and April 2, 2016.
Punch Correspondent, Tobi Aworinde, was the first runner-up in the print category while Sebatine Ebhuomhan of National Mirror came third.
Kunle Ajayi of Daily Independent won the Photo category, while Ayodele Ojo of The Sun was also commended in the same category.
The Board Chair and Executive Director, Trust Media, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles, Mr. Kabiru Abdullahi Yusuf, was awarded with the lifetime award for journalistic excellence while the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) got the 2016 Anti-Corruption defender of the year award for active engagement in procurement monitoring in the civic society space.
According to the Chairman of the event, Professor Lai Osho, a total of 125 entries were submitted for the awards, out of which 44 were for the print, 38 online, 12 television, two radio, 16 photojournalism and 13 editorial cartoon categories.
He explained that prizes were not awarded in the radio and television category due to poor quality of the entries submitted, adding that 90 percent of the stories received were routine.
The event was attended by dignitaries including the Nobel Laureate and Grand Patron of the centre, Prof. Wole Soyinka; the Deputy Ambassador to the Netherlands Embassy, Michel Deelen; Chairman of the board of the centre, Prof. Ropo Sekoni and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati.
