Editor of The Next Edition, an online newspaper, Isine Ibanga has emerged the winner of the 2019 Nigerian Investigative Reporter of the Year organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
He was declared the winner at the award ceremony held in Lagos on Monday during which 12 other journalists, the Amnesty International Nigeria, a global movement promoting human rights in Nigeria; and Sunmi Smart-Cole, veteran photojournalist, were honoured.
Ibanga won based on his tenacity, doggedness and focused handling of his investigative report on the brazen illegality among security operatives on Nigeria’s highways and how this contributes to the high prices of goods in Nigeria.
He won the online category for his two-part serial “How Bribe Taking Security Operatives/Gangs Force Nigerians to Pay Dearly for Food”, while Samson Folarin of The Punch won the print category for his nine-part investigative report “Certificate, plagiarism, scandal rocks UNIZIK”, which revealed an academic fraud, intrigues, poor governance and subterfuge involving, Peter Ekemezie, who masqueraded as a “scholar” for years.
There were no winners for the Photography, Radio, Television and Cartoon categories though there were runners up and commended entries.
The winners and runners-ups got cash prizes of N100,000 and N50,000 respectively, plus a certificate of commendation. In addition, winners got award plaques and will proceed on an all-expense-paid international study tour in 2019.
Reporters whose works were commended also got a certificate of commendation.
Chikezie Omeje of International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) emerged runner-up in the Online category for his story “Million meant for combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria end up in private pockets” while Damilola Banjo of Sahara Reporters was commended in the category for her four-part serial “Blood-Thirsty Demons of Zamfara”.
Chinwe Agbeze of the Sun Newspaper emerged runner-up for her two-part investigative serial “Corruption ruins FG’s N7bn Unity Schools’ security project” in the print category, while Oladimeji Ramon of The Punch was commended for his story “Lagos Mobile Court Where the Innocent, Guilty are Sent to Prison”.
In the photography category, Odutayo Odusanya of Punch emerged runner-up for his visual story “Child Labour” and Saheed Olugbon, also of The Punch was commended for his photo “Fifteen Years after Retirement, Struggle Continues”. Also commended was Ayodele Adeniran of The Guardian for his photo entry “Pupils lament pain, long trek in search of knowledge”.
Albert Oham of the Sun Newspaper was commended for his cartoon “N13.5 Million Sitting Allowance for Senators” published in the Sun Newspaper
For her five-part entry “Alleged Police Extra-Judicial Killing of Madam Basirat Akinmushire’’, Mary Abayomi-Fatile of Radio Nigeria was the only reporter recognised in the radio category. She was commended for her report.
Though there was no winner in the television category, Sharon Ijasan of Television Continental (TVC), a 2018 winner of the category, emerged runner-up for her two-part report, “Child rights, labour laws violated by Chinese companies” while Samuel-Wemimo Bukola, also of TVC was commended for her investigation “Depression and Suicide”.
Ijasan was offered a two million grant to pursue her investigation of child labour, especially in companies run by Chinese employers in the country.
Umaru Pate, Chairman, 2019 Judges’ Board, commended the finalists for the quality of entries received across the six categories, noting that in spite of all odds in the media sector and particularly in investigative reporting, much is being done by dogged journalists to still uncover issues.
He, however, observed on behalf of the Judges that there is the need for a better quality report, through “deeper investigation and thorough editing.”