At the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSCIJ), held on 9 December 2024, in Lagos, journalists, media proprietors, and stakeholders stressed the urgent need to improve the quality of investigative reports to combat threats to media credibility.
The event, hosted by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), celebrated the outstanding work of 15 journalists and honoured Chinyere Okunna, the first female professor of Mass Communication in Sub-Sahara Africa; the late Beko Ransome-Kuti for his civil rights activism; and members of WSCIJ’s board of trustees for long service and contribution to its growth.
Nabilah Usman, Head of Programmes, Radio Now 95.3 FM, hosted the award presentation event. The event featured a spirited performance by Ola Esther and her music band.
In her opening remarks, Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ, stated that the award is to celebrate courage, fearlessness, and the capacity of journalists to do thorough work, despite the many attacks on them in recent times. She alluded to WSCIJ’s Journalism and Civic Space Guard report which revealed that state actors, led by police are the major attackers of the journalists.
According to her, “We must not normalize the harassment of journalists in Nigeria.” Beyond the award, she hopes that the reports will get the needed attention.
Michel Deelen, Consul General, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, the funders of the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting and the broader Civic Space Guard Programme, decried the human rights challenges in Nigeria, adding that the war on them begins with getting credible information out, especially with the distortion of context with artificial intelligence.
He charged media houses to increase focus on investigative reporting.
Aaron Atsahyel won the television category for his documentary, “Stolen Innocence; Nabeeha’s Tragic Abduction” aired on Trust TV. Lami Sadiq came runner-up in the category for her documentary “Kidney for sale: Abuja’s organ trade black market”, and Adedoja Salam-Adeniyi was commended for her story “Aminat Alege: A 12-year-old’s ordeal with police brutality”. The radio category had no winner.
Meanwhile, Olufunke Fayemi emerged as runner-up for her report, “Girls in Okobaba: 6 years after”, broadcast on Voice of Nigeria. Isaac Olufemi Ojo was commended for his story, “Understaffed and overworked: The dire state of Oyo State’s Primary Healthcare System” on Splash105.5FM.
In the print category, Lami Sadiq carted the winning prize for her story “Inside Abuja’s kidney ‘market’ where the rich prey on the poor,” published in Daily Trust. Ann Godwin emerged runner-up in the category for her story “At UPTH’s ICU, horror, nightmare as caregivers exploit sick and dying patients”, published in The Guardian. Segun Odunayo received a commendation for his story “Forest War: Amotekun’s many battles with herdsmen, bandits” in The Punch.
The winning prize for the Online category went to Jemilat Nasiru and Ibrahim Mansur, for their joint story “Living on borrowed time: How Nigeria’s unchecked e-waste is poisoning residents, environment” in TheCable.
Daniel Ojukwu came runner-up in the category for his undercover report “With N45,000, I got valid police character certificate for Kirikiri Prison inmate” in FIJ. Umar Audu was commended for his undercover report “How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC scheme”, published in Daily Nigerian.
Olukayode Jaiyeola won the photo category with his photo “Ghetto in Paradise: Abuja Pupils Learn in Sheds, Endure Dump’s Odor”, published in The Punch. Elliot Ovadje, also of The Punch, emerged runner-up and was commended for his photos, “Danger and Dreams” and “Shattered Foundations,” respectively.
Chukwuemeka Emenike clinched the winning prize and the commendation for the editorial cartoon category, with his stories “Empty Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)” and “Tighten your belts”, both published in New Telegraph. Victor Asowata emerged runner-up for his cartoon “Donation Extravaganza”.
According to Stella Din-Jacob, Chair of the 2024 award judges’ board, the WSCIJ received 219 entries from 153 reporters, out of 45, 20.5% were by female journalists.
She identified the need for the number of entries by female journalists to increase and encouraged female journalists to put out more investigations about them on every issue.
In the face of ethical issues like AI manipulation, fake news, and yellow journalism, Din-Jacob affirmed the need to “encourage journalists as they push the frontiers of investigative reporting. The quality of the story must continue to improve.
WSCIJ presented the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence to Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Paul University, Awka, in recognition of her unwavering dedication to advancing the Nigerian media landscape, her remarkable achievements, including being Nigeria’s first female professor of Mass Communication and her steadfast commitment to championing women’s development in media and society.
Okunna dedicated the award to journalism professionals and her students past, present, and future.
The Human Rights Defender Award was conferred posthumously to Beko Ransome-Kuti, a physician and activist, who dedicated his life to defending civil liberties, advocating for the oppressed, and challenging injustices with remarkable courage. His daughter, Morenike Ransome-Kuti received the award on behalf of the family.
A special part of the 19th award presentation event was the presentation of long service awards to members of the WSCIJ board of trustees – Ropo Sekoni, Board chair; Jiti Ogunye, Board Secretary; and Idowu Obasa, member.
They have served on the board for 15 years, from 2009 till date, providing strategic oversight that has been instrumental in making the Centre stay true to its mission and uphold the highest standards of ethics and operational efficiency.
Held first in October 2005, the program has produced 130 finalists, 66 ‘Soyinka Laureates’, 13 investigative journalists of the year, and 31 honorary awards recipients. winners received an award plaque, a certificate, a cash gift of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000), and an international trip.
Runner-ups got a certificate of commendation and a cash gift of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000). Finalists whose works were commended got a certificate of commendation and a cash gift of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000).
This year, the award presentation event concluded a two-day Amplify In-depth Media (AIM) Conference focused on “Media credibility, investigative reporting, and artificial intelligence,” where it was agreed that the credibility and independence of journalism must be upheld despite advancement in technology, with artificial intelligence.
Julie McKay, Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate General, Lagos; Bimbo Oloyede, veteran broadcaster; Kunle Ajibade, Editor, The News; Deji Badmus, Founder, TV360; Banke Sekoni, wife of WSCIJ Board Chair; Comfort Idika-Ogunye, counsel and solicitor, Jiti Ogunye Chambers; Lemi Olalemi, broadcaster and activist; Semiu Okanlawon, Publisher, NPO Reports; and Simon Kolawole, Chief Executive Officer, TheCable, among others graced the occasion with their presence.
