The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NMMA

  • The Nation shows strength at NMMA, wins seven honours

    The Nation shows strength at NMMA, wins seven honours

    The Nation showed strength on Saturday night at the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) grand awards presentation in Lagos.

    Our reporters scooped seven honours at the 33rd edition of the media showpiece event.

    This newspaper’s journalists were runners-up in multiple categories.

    Editor Adeniyi Adesina was a runner-up for the Editor of the Year laurel.

    The Nation was also a finalist in the Newspaper of the Year category.

    Multi-award-winning Innocent Duru, Assistant News Editor on the Weekend Desk, won the Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year.

    His winning entry was: “From frying pan to fire: Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria relive horrific experience.”

    He also clinched the Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year.

    His winning entry was: “Couple who lost older son to NDLEA Officials’ bullet battle to save second baby’s sight.”

    Duru was a runner-up in the Notore Chemical Prize for Environment Reporter of the Year category.

    Our reporter, Alao Abiodun, was also a finalist in the category.

    Duru and Abiodun were also runners-up in the Keystone Bank Prize for CSR Reporter of the Year category.

    Duru and Assistant Business Editor, Collins Nweze, were runners-up in the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year category.

    Duru was also a finalist for the Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year, as well as the Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Features Writer of the Year.

    Duru also made it to the final three of the Ibrahim Shekarau Prize for Education Reporter of the Year category.

    Serial winner Chikodi Okereocha won the Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of the Year.

    Deputy Editor Dr Emmanuel Oladesu won the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year, demonstrating his mastery of the beat.

    He was a runner-up in the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year category, where Gboyega Alaka of the Weekend Desk was also a finalist.

    Serial winner Taiwo Alimi won the 9Mobile Prize for Most Innovative Reporter of the Year.

    He was a runner-up in the Sports Reporting category.

    Star reporter Justina Asishana won the Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture Reporter of the Year with the report: “Double agony for physically challenged farmers in Niger.”

    Our reporter Emma Elekwa was a runner-up in the category. His entry: “Erratic power supply cripples poultry businesses in Anambra,” made a strong showing.

    Head of Business on the Weekend Desk, Ibrahim Yusuf, was named winner of the Coca-Cola Nigeria Prize for Brand & Marketing Reporter of the Year.

    Our maritime correspondent, Kemi Dauda, was a runner-up in the Nigerian Ports Authority Prize for Maritime Reporter of the Year.

    Our aviation correspondent, Kelvin Osa Okunbor, had two nominations in the Aviation Industry Reporter of the Year category.

    Read Also: Tunji-Ojo: Nigeria’s future depends on unity, national renewal

    The Nation cartoonists, Muyiwa Adetula and Solomon Victor Izekor, were runners-up in the Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for Cartoonist of the Year category.

    This newspaper’s editorial, “Scam on seven floors,” published on December 30, 2024, was a runner-up in the Prize for Editorial Writing category, which was won by The Punch.

    The Punch also edged The Nation for the Newspaper of the Year prize.

    The Guardian was the third nominee in the category.

    It was the same for the Editor of the Year, where The Nation’s Adesina was the first runner-up.

    A highlight of the night was the nine individual honours won by ex-The Punch staff member Godfrey George.

    Other winners on the night were reporters of The Punch, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune, The Sun, New Telegraph and Condia.

    Television Continental (TVC) won the NBC Prize for Television Station of the Year, while FRCN was named Radio Station of the Year.

    NMMA Trustee and Chairman of the Eminent Panel of Assessors, Mr Dele Adetiba, said 800 entries of works published or broadcast in 2024 were received; each winner scored 70 per cent.

    He said the organisers were working to digitise the entry process to end the current cumbersome hardcopy submission format.

    Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, who delivered the keynote address, urged the media to continue to hold the government accountable, especially in the use of public funds.

    He noted that the role of the media includes tracking “whether public funds deliver value”.

    Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, represented by former Registrar of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, assured the media of the Tinubu Administration’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom.

    “The government will continue to support policies that guarantee a free press,” he said.

  • The Nation shows strength at NMMA

    The Nation shows strength at NMMA

    • This newspaper wins nine honours

    The Nation showed strength at the 32nd edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) on Sunday night.

    It won nine honours, with its reporters runners-up in 18 categories.

    Assistant News Editor Innocent Duru scooped four honours.

    He won the Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year, the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year, the Rufkatu Danjuma Prize for Public Health Reporter of the Year (two nominations) and the Adamu Mu’Azu Prize for Tourism Reporter of the Year.

    Assistant Business Editor Collins Nweze won the Access Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year, and the UBA Prize for Money Market Reporter of the Year, with two nominations each.

    Regional Manager, Southsouth, Shola O’Neil won the Conoil Prize for Energy Correspondent of the Year with the story: “Illegal bunkering: military, militants, politicians in unholy alliances.”

    Head of Business on the Weekend Desk, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, clinched two awards: the Coca-Cola Nigeria Prize for Brand and Marketing Reporter of the Year, and the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year.

    This newspaper had two nominations in the Prize for Editorial Writing category.

    The Nation journalists were runners-up in other categories.

    Deputy Editor Dr Emmanuel Oladesu was a runner-up in the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year category.

    Sports Editor Morakinyo Abodunrin, and Sports Reporter Taiwo Alimi were nominees for the Bashorun M.K.O Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year, while Yusuf was a finalist in the Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture Reporter of the Year category.

    Assistant Editor Muyiwa Lucas was a runner-up in the Conoil Prize for Energy Correspondent of the Year and Coca-Cola Nigeria Prize for Brand and Marketing Reporter of the Year categories.

    Production Editor (Weekend) Gbenga Aderanti was a runner-up for the Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil & Gas Reporter of the Year.

    Assistant Business Editor Lucas Ajanaku had two nominations for the MTN Prize for Telecommunications Reporter of the Year, which was won by Solomon Odeniyi of The Punch.

    Chief Cartoonist Muyiwa Adetula was a finalist in the Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for Cartoonist of the Year category.

    Reporter Grace Obike had two nominations for the Prize for Female Reporter of the Year, which was won by Oluyemisi Fasogbon of ThisDay.

    Correspondent Tony Akowe was a runner-up in the Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year category, won by Duru.

    It is a continuation of this newspaper’s strong showing in the prestigious award.

    Last year, The Nation won 15 awards (six more than the rest) from 33 nominations.

    NMMA did not announce Newspaper of the Year and Editor of the Year winners.

    The Punch won the Prize for Editorial Writing of the Year on Sunday night, while its journalists won 11 awards.

    They are: Ovadje Elliot, News Photographer of the Year; Joy Aina, Sunny Odogwu Prize for Business Reporter of the Year; Moyosore Ige, Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the Year and Victor Nnodim, Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of Year.

    Others are Solomon Odeniyi, Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Reporter of the Year and MTN Prize for Telecommunications Reporter of the Year; Godfrey George, Nigerian Ports Authority Prize for Maritime Reporter of the Year; Nigerite Prize for Real Estate/Construction Reporter of the Year and Aviation Industry Reporter of the Year; and Osaji Iroro, Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Features Writer of the Year.

    The Guardian journalists won four awards.

    They are: Gregory Nwakunor, Keystone Bank Prize for CSR Reporter of the Year; Mary Awodipe, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year; Sunday Eno, Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year; and Kingsley Jeremiah, Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil & Gas Reporter of the Year.

    Other winners are Phillip Ojo, The Sun (Environment); Eze Aja, The Sun (Education); Ebele Orakpo, Vanguard (Agriculture); Lami Sadiq, Daily Trust (two awards – Culture and Tradition and Investigative); Afeez Hanafi, Daily Trust (Insurance); Cornelius Emeka, New Telegraph (Cartoonist); Juliana Francis, New Telegraph (Innovative); Ladescope Ladelokun, New Telegraph (Newspaper Reporter); and Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, Nigerian Tribune (Alade Odunewu Prize for Columnist of the Year).

    Read Also: Superstory wins NMMA TV Drama of the Year

    In the broadcast category, Michael Dadzie of Lagos Traffic Radio won Radio Presenter of the Year; Olufunke Fayemi of Voice of Nigeria won the Radio Production of the Year, while Aisha Salihu of Trust TV won TV Reporter of the Year.

    Television Newscaster of the Year award went to Patience John of NTA; Miliscent Nwoka of Channels won TV Programme Presenter of the Year, while Wole Adenuga of Wap TV won Television Drama of the Year.

    NMMA Trustee & Chairman Eminent Panel of Assessors, Mr Dele Adetiba, said the panel assessed the entries based on proficiency in the use of language, originality, relevance and evidence of claims.

    He said almost 1,000 entries were received and that a winner must score at least 70 per cent.

    Chairman of the NMMA Board of Trustees, Dr Dayo Duyile, called for more investment in the media.

    “The standard has not fallen. What has fallen is investment in the media. Investment has stopped,” he said.

    Former Board of Trustees Chairman Dr Haroun Adamu was installed as patron.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who restated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom.

    President Tinubu urged the media to support his administration’s proposed tax reforms, describing them as a critical step toward building enduring national wealth and prosperity for all Nigerians.

    He said while opinions may differ on the details of the proposed tax reforms, there is a national consensus on the need for a complete overhaul of the current tax administration system.

    He was optimistic that through the ongoing dialogue on the tax reforms, there would be many areas of convergence of opinions.

    “I will say with every sense of conviction that our policies are deliberate and well-thought-out. We are headed toward the restoration of Nigeria, on a path requiring a comprehensive approach that addresses economic diversification, human capital development, infrastructure development, wealth creation, and inclusive growth.

    “Among our various landmark reforms is the one focused on tax, by far one of the most profound steps necessary for setting Nigeria onto the path of enduring national wealth and prosperity for all our people. There is a consensus that the tax administration system in Nigeria requires reform. We may not all agree on every detail of the required reform, but there will be many areas of convergence,” he said.

  • The Nation wins highest honours at NMMA

    The Nation wins highest honours at NMMA

    The Nation showed class again last night at the 31st edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA).

    It won the highest number of awards.

    This newspaper won 15 individual honours at the grand presentation which held at the Shell Grand Functions Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The Punch trailed with nine honours. But its editor, Dayo Oketola, was named winner of the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year.

    The Nation had 33 nominations, the highest on the night, but was a runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year category, which was won by The Punch, which had 32 nominations.

    Other nominees for the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year were The Guardian and Daily Trust.

    At the 30th edition of the award last year, The Nation also won the most honours, coasting home with 15 awards.

    Last week, The Nation was adjudged Newspaper of the Year by the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME). Its editor, Adeniyi Adesina, named Editor of the Year.

    This newspaper also won the highest number of individual honours – six – at DAME.

    Last night, The Nation’s haul began with the first category: Bashorun MKO Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year won by Taiwo Alimi.

    Akinbo Wonder of The Punch and Ajibade Samson of New Telegraph were the runners-up.

    Alimi was also named winner of the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year, a category in which Assistant Editor Innocent Duru and Gboyega Alaka were nominees.

    Deputy Editor Dr. Emmanuel Oladesu won the Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture Reporter of the Year. He beat Nnodin Okechukwu of The Punch and Atainyang Etim of Watchman Post to the honour.

    Oladesu also won the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year. His deputy, Raymond Mordi, and Augustine Avwode of The Point, formerly of The Nation, were also nominees in the category.

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    Our Niger State Correspondent Justina Asishana won the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Prize for Culture & Tradition Reporter of the Year. Alaka was a nominee in the category.

    Duru won the Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Reporter of the Year. Our Head of Crime/ Metro Desk, Precious Igbonwelundu, was a nominee in the category.

    Duru was also named the winner of Etisalat Prize for Most Innovative Reporter of the Year, beating Oghenovo Michael and Godfrey George, both of The Punch.

    The Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year also went to Duru, a serial award winner.

    Southsouth Regional Manager Shola O’Neil won the NAFCON Prize for Environment Reporter of the Year, beating Ujorha Onoseme of Daily Trust and Janet Ogundepo of The Punch.

    Assistant Business Editor Collins Nweze was named winner of the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year.

    He also won the Access Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year, ahead of The Guardian, The Punch and Premium Times reporters.

    Head of Business on the Weekend Desk, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, won the Coca-Cola Prize for Brand and Marketing Reporter of the Year.

    He beat Gbenga Salau of The Guardian and Janet Ogundipe of The Punch.

    The gong for MTN Prize for Telecommunications Reporter of the Year went to Assistant Editor Lucas Ajanaku.

    He bested Solomon Odeniyi of The Punch and Adepetun Olalekan of The Guardian to clinch the prize.

    Our chief cartoonist Muyiwa Adetula won the Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for Cartoonist of the Year, ahead of Emenike Chukwuemeka of New Telegraph and Adeeko Femi of the Nigerian Tribune.

    The Nation’s Gabriel Ogunjobi won the Alex Ibru Prize for Investigative Reporter of the Year.

    Olufemi Cornelius and Janet Ogundepo, both of The Punch, were the runners-up in the highly competitive category.

    The Nation was a runner-up in the Prize for Editorial Writing of the Year category, won by Nigerian Tribune.

    The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) won the NBC Prize for Radio Station of the Year ahead of Wazobia FM and RayPower.

    Channels Television was named winner of the NBC Prize for Television Station of the Year. Arise TV and Television Continental (TVC) were the other nominees.

  • From NMMA to the world: Five laureates on global space

    From NMMA to the world: Five laureates on global space

    Over two decades ago, a visionary initiative was born—one that has come to define the highest standards of journalistic excellence in Nigeria. Supported by some of the most respected names in Nigerian media, including the late Alhaji Babatunde Jose, proprietor of the iconic Daily Times and a towering figure in newspaper publishing; Alhaji Alade Odunewu, renowned satirist and columnist; and broadcast journalism pioneer Vincent Maduka, the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) was established in partnership with Yemi Akeju’s Ideas Communications Limited.

    From the outset, the NMMA was conceived not just as an award ceremony, but as an institution rooted in credibility, integrity, and an unflinching commitment to excellence. Its creators were united by a shared goal: to celebrate and elevate the best of Nigerian journalism by creating a merit-based platform that would recognize outstanding contributions to the profession across print, broadcast, and online platforms.

    What sets the NMMA apart is its rigorous adjudication process, widely regarded as meticulous and transparent in the country’s media landscape. Each entry is subjected to a multi-tiered evaluation system conducted by an independent panel of seasoned journalists, media scholars, and communication experts. These adjudicators scrutinise submissions based on strict criteria that include objectivity, factual accuracy, clarity of thought, depth of research, and excellence in writing or production.

    Every year, hundreds of entries are submitted from across the nation’s media houses. Only a select few make it past the preliminary screening, and even fewer go on to be shortlisted for final consideration. Judges ensure that each work is assessed solely on its merit.

    This uncompromising standard is reflected in the prestige associated with each NMMA category. Honours such as Journalist of the Year, Investigative Reporter of the Year, Newspaper of the Year, Feature Writer of the Year, Television Station of the Year, Business Reporter of the Year, Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year, and Brands and Marketing Reporter of the Year are not merely handed out, they are earned through exceptional diligence, creativity, and professional integrity.

    Held every December, the NMMA has consistently spotlighted journalists and media organisations that challenge the status quo, hold power to account, and inform the public with depth, accuracy, and insight. Many of its laureates have gone on to achieve international recognition, underscoring the role of the NMMA as a launchpad for excellence.

    One of such is Maik Nwosu, currently a Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English and Literary Arts at the University of Denver, Colorado, United States. A distinguished writer and scholar, Nwosu received the Nigeria Media Merit Award for Journalist of the Year in 1994 before pursuing advanced academic studies in the United States. He earned his Ph.D. in English and Textual Studies from Syracuse University, New York, in 2005.

    Nwosu’s research focuses on African, African Diaspora, postcolonial, and world literatures, as well as semiotics and critical theory. His academic excellence has been recognized with prestigious fellowships, including the Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany; the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbertide, Italy; and the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study in South Africa.

    His scholarly essays have appeared in leading journals and edited volumes such as English in Africa, Research in African Literatures, Journal of Postcolonial Writing, Texts, Tasks, and Theories: Versions and Subversions in African Literatures, Transnational Literature, Commonwealth Essays and Studies, Semiotica, Critical Insights: Cultural Encounters, and the Journal of Narrative Theory.

    Nwosu is the author of several influential books, including Markets of Memories: Between the Postcolonial and the Transnational (Africa World Press, 2011), which examines cultural and ideological intersections through the works of Christopher Okigbo, Derek Walcott, James Joyce, and Isabel Allende. He co-edited The Critical Imagination in African Literature: Essays in Honour of Michael J. C. Echeruo (Syracuse University Press, 2015) and authored The Comic Imagination in Modern African Literature and Cinema: A Poetics of Laughter (Routledge, 2016), a study of Africa’s carnivalesque literary and cinematic traditions.

    In addition to his academic work, Nwosu is an accomplished creative writer. His literary publications include the poetry collection Suns of Kush; the novels Invisible Chapters, Alpha Song, and A Gecko’s Farewell; and a short story collection, Return to Algadez.

    In 2011, Toyosi Ogunseye received the NMMA as  Environment Journalist of the Year. Now the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Precinct, a premier leadership development organisation based in the United States, she is also a proud alumna of the 2014 Mandela Washington Fellowship, which she completed at the Precinct.

    Before taking the helm at the Presidential Precinct, Ogunseye made history and headlines in the world of media. She served as Head of Language Services (West Africa) at the BBC World Service, where she led editorial strategy and multilingual content operations across the region. Prior to her BBC tenure, she broke barriers in Nigeria’s journalism landscape as the first female Sunday Editor of The Punch, one of the country’s most influential newspapers.

    Ogunseye’s foray into journalism began as a bold leap while she was still a second-year Biochemistry undergraduate at the University of Lagos. By 2007, she had become a senior correspondent at News Star Newspaper, and in 2009, she joined The Punch as a Sub-Assistant Editor for News and Politics. By 2012, she shattered a glass ceiling as the newspaper’s youngest and first female Sunday Editor.

    Her academic path is as impressive as her professional rise. Ogunseye holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Lagos, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Print Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, and a Master’s degree in Media and Communications from Pan-Atlantic University (2010).

    A fierce advocate for good governance, youth empowerment, and ethical journalism, Ogunseye’s journey continues to inspire a new generation of African leaders and storytellers. Her leadership at the Presidential Precinct underscores her lifelong commitment to amplifying voices, nurturing talent, and shaping transformational narratives—both at home and across the globe.

    In 2006 and 2014, Adeola Akinremi, now a consultant at the World Bank in Washington DC, won the NMMA as Feature Writer of the Year and Newspaper Reporter of the Year. He previously worked as a U.S. correspondent, editor, and columnist at ThisDay newspaper. Akinremi is widely recognised for his courageous journalism.

    On September 16, 2016, he broke a high-profile plagiarism story involving Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari. In a column for ThisDay, Akinremi exposed Buhari for plagiarising portions of President Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech. The speech, which was delivered during the launch of Nigeria’s national ethical rebirth campaign, Change Begins With Me, was presented by Buhari as his original words. The exposé sparked global outrage and led to an official apology from the presidency. President Buhari subsequently dismissed the aide responsible for writing the speech.

    Akinremi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Lagos State University. He earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University and an additional Master’s degree in Project Development and Implementation from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He graduated from journalism school in 1999.

    He also reported extensively on U.S. politics, including coverage of America’s first Black president, Barack Obama. In 2014, he was recognised by the U.S. Department of State as a leader in his field and selected for the prestigious International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). During the program, he visited five U.S. battleground states such as Georgia and Kentucky to report on the midterm elections. He also covered the consequential 2016 U.S. presidential election for ThisDay newspaper.

    The United Nations is benefiting from the wealth of experience of another NMMA Laureate, Adedeji Ademigbuji. In 2013, when Ademigbuji won the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) for Brands and Marketing Reporter of the Year, it marked a pivotal point in his career, not merely a crowning achievement, but a springboard for deeper impact. More than a journalist chronicling consumer trends and market shifts, Adedeji evolved into a compelling voice for humanity in crisis, harnessing the tools of storytelling to illuminate both the economic undercurrents and humanitarian emergencies that shape our world.

    In 2017, he joined the World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria as a Communications Associate, trading the structure of newspaper columns for the urgency of humanitarian advocacy. There, he documented the lives of people impacted by food insecurity in Nigeria’s conflict-ridden northeast, crafting multimedia stories that catalyzed donor support and increased public awareness.

    Read Also: UK-based Nigerian AI policy advocate interprets EU AI Act

    When COVID-19 struck in 2020, Adedeji led communications efforts targeting urban-poor communities, gathering stories and visual content from Nigeria’s most vulnerable areas during lockdowns. It was a masterclass in crisis communications underpinned by his earlier journalistic instincts and a strong academic foundation in marketing and mass communication from the University of Lagos.

    In 2021, he became the National Public Information Officer for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Nigeria. His mandate: ensure the world doesn’t forget the human cost of insurgency, flooding, and famine.

    In this role, he didn’t just write press releases—he crafted field-driven, people-centered narratives, producing videos, B-rolls, and short documentaries. From organizing coverage of the UN Secretary-General’s 2022 visit to Nigeria, to leading digital storytelling for World Humanitarian Day, Adedeji brought clarity and compassion to complex emergencies. He was equally adept at managing social media campaigns, conducting media monitoring, and collaborating with national NGOs to raise voices from remote communities.

    His effectiveness in Nigeria led to high-level deployments with OCHA in Somalia (2023), where he helped communicate the urgency of famine response, and later in Ukraine, where he currently serves as Public Information Officer.

    Another former laureate now on the global stage is Adejuwon Soynka. He has received multiple NMMA in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field. In 2011, he earned accolades as both the Print Journalist of the Year and the Human Rights Reporter of the Year. He repeated his success in 2012, once again winning the Human Rights Reporter of the Year award. In 2013, his excellence in international reporting was recognised with the Foreign News Reporter of the Year award.

    Since winning NMMA, Soyinka has gone on to be a two-time Emmy Award nominee. In 2017, he was tapped by the BBC to lead the launch of its digital Pidgin Service in West Africa, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at expanding access to news through one of the region’s most widely spoken and culturally resonant languages. As the inaugural editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, Soyinka steered the editorial vision, built and trained a dynamic team of journalists, and oversaw the creation of content that was not only linguistically accessible but rich in journalistic depth and cultural relevance.

    Currently, Adejuwon Soyinka serves as the Regional Editor (West Africa) for The Conversation Africa, where he continues to champion fact-based, expert-driven journalism. In this role, he collaborates with scholars, scientists, and researchers across the region to produce insights that bridge the worlds of academia and public policy. Under his stewardship, the West African arm of The Conversation has grown into a vibrant platform where ideas, evidence, and context matter in public discourse.

  • From son of a newspaper vendor to award-winning journalist

    Innocent Duru has an unbreakable bond with newspapers. As a child, his father would give him local and international newspapers before going to sell on the streets of Ibadan.

    “I developed interest in news writing and even before I went to school, I knew how to write news,” he said.

    The more he read the stories, the clearer it becomes to him he should be a news writer, not just consumer. When it was time for higher education, he couldn’t think of any other course other than Mass Communication.

    As an undergraduate, he studied hard to learn the practice of journalism. He so much wanted to never have to sell newspapers again but to write news.

    He considered journalists as role model worthy and would read, in awe, the structure and manner in which they weaved words into stories.

    He believed a good news story should be compendious. Feature stories were his favourite and he took no one by surprise when he bagged the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) Feature Writer of the Year 2017.

    Shortly after his graduation from the University of Lagos, he worked as a freelance reporter at The Sun Newspaper. Owing to his journalistic prowess, he moved on to The National Life Newspaper before they went out of existence and got merged with The Nation’s Newspaper.

    When he got a job in 2012 as a reporter with The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria’s widest circulating paper, his joy knew no bound. Life as a son of a vendor had taught him to treasure such an opportunity.

    It was one he was willing to take with both hands. He started out as a feature reporter in the Saturday desk and worked his way to being an award winning journalist in NMMA 2017/2018.

    His entry in the award category ‘We’ll rather perish in the desert’, was borne out of the need to uncover the mystery behind Libyan returnees.

    He felt that their stories were not given justice as many reporters just tell the tale of their escapades without unraveling the actual truth about their sufferings.

    He went a step further by going to Edo state where most of them came from to scout for news about their illegal travel through the desert.

    The entry ‘Pedophile on the prowl’, on the other hand, came from a report he got about the abuse of children in Yobe states by pedophiles.

    He decided to extend research by reaching out to the people involved and gathered enough information to make a captivating story which earned him a nomination.

    He mentioned he faced stiff opposition from government officials that were involved in the pedophiles’ case and also from the refugees but he was able to overcome the challenges with his experience as an investigative journalist.

    His ability to weave words into captivating stories allowed his entry stand out from the rest in the category.

  • NMMA names Buhari grand patron

    •Awards hold in Akwa Ibom Dec

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been selected as grand patron of Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA).

    The investiture of the President, according to a statement by General Administrator, Nigerian Media Merit Awards, Mr. Tosin Ayo-Faluyi, will be announced later.

    Faluyi said part of the NMMA  Awards, which holds in Akwa Ibom State between December 13 and 16, is the  investiture of President  Buhari as Grand Patron of the NMMA, adding that the “Numero Uno Man of the Media” conferment was in line with the provisions of the NMMA statute.

    He stated that the entries for the NMMA 2018, which closed a few months ago, attracted from across the nation 651 entries from 461  entrants in print, radio and television.

    This, he said, was a great development to which awards administrators had responded by strengthening the screening.

    “Thus, 10 new accomplished media professionals were enlisted in a structured adjustment of the 25 man Panel of Assessors who screens the various entries in different categories.  New rules and provisions were also introduced to raise the standards of the scheme. The qualified nominations for the NMMA  Awards will be released on December 2, 2018,” he said.

    This year’s event will make Akwa Ibom the 11th state to host the awards outside Lagos, the media-city.  It is the second state from the Southsouth geopolitical zone since inception of the awards in 1991/92.  The first was Rivers in 2004.

    For this year’s award, three recommended states were considered by the administrators before a final decision on Akwa Ibom was taken.

    The hosting of the NMMA across the nation provides a special forum for the media practitioners and leaders to meet with members of the society across various zones of Nigeria. This helps to foster closer media understanding, recognition and interaction not only among media people but very much also with the people of the state and zone directly, making for the appreciation of their unique cultural heritage and economic potential.  This is more so because the celebration of media excellence brings the people closer to the media leaders and practitioners they read and hear of on the media platforms.

    The guests assembly at the three-day grand awards will include about 150 awards nominees, 50 media leaders and about 100 special guests from the public and private sectors of Akwa Ibom State and from across the nation.

    The grand awards presentation ceremony will feature, among others, NMMA Trustees Awards to three eminent national leaders while three media leaders who have contributed immensely to media excellence shall also be honoured at the ceremony.

    Other activities include sectoral programmes involving key media and Akwa Ibom State executives; a media leaders roundtable on topical subjects of national interest; a tour of the three Senatorial Districts of the state by media executives and guests; and the Media Heroes & Icons Night of Tributes.

     

  • The Nation flies highest with 10 prizes at NMMA

    The Nation flies highest with 10 prizes at NMMA

    The best reporters and writers are in The Nation — and this is official.

    With 10 coveted prizes at the prestigious Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA), this newspaper’s leadership in quality reportage has been reaffirmed. The Nation won the highest number of awards at the 27th NMMA on Wednesday night at the Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos.

    The prizes were from the 29 in the print media category. The Nation had 28 nominations, winning in 10 categories – the highest by any newspaper. The rest were shared among  The Punch, New Telegraph, Nigerian Tribune, Business Day, The Sun, The Source and Vanguard.

    Editor Gbenga Omotoso won  the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year.

    Vintage Press Chairman Wale Edun, in a message to Managing Director Victor Ifijeh, who broke the news to him, said:”Fantastic news.  Congratulations all round. I salute the superb quality of our entire team”.

    winners all

    •Gbenga Omotoso- Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year
    •Adekunle Yusuf- Alex Ibru Prize for Investigative Reporter of the Year
    •Taiwo Alimi – Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year
    •Emeka Ugwuanyi – Peter Odili Power Reporter of the Year
    •Seun Akioye – Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year
    •Uguru Okorie – Adamu Mu’azu Tourism Reporter of the Year
    •Collins Nweze – Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year
    •Collins Nweze – Access Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year
    •Innocent Duru – Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year
    •Betty Abbah- Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year

  • Harvest of awards for The Nation at NMMA

    Harvest of awards for The Nation at NMMA

    The Nation has again shown class at this year’s edition of the Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA). Its reporters clinched 10 of the 29 prizes up for grabs in the print media category. The remaining 19 were shared among seven other newspapers. WALE AJETUNMOBI, who was at the MUSON Centre venue of the awards, reports

    With 10 coveted prizes at the prestigious Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA), The Nation leadership in quality reportage has been reaffirmed. This newspaper won the highest number of awards at the 27th NMMA on Wednesday night at the Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos.

    The prizes were from the 29 in the print media category. The Nation had 28 nominations, winning in 10 categories – the highest by any newspaper. The rest were shared among  The Punch, New Telegraph, Nigerian Tribune, Business Day, The Sun, The Source and Vanguard.

    Of the 29 awards in the print media category, New Telegraph won eight, The Punch won four, Nigerian Tribune (three), Business Day (one), The Sun (one) and Vanguard (one). The Source magazine also won a prize.

    Editor Gbenga Omotoso won  the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year.

    Vintage Press Chairman Wale Edun, in a message to Managing Director Victor Ifijeh, who broke the news to him, said:”Fantastic news.  Congratulations all round. I salute the superb quality of our entire team”.

    The Punch’s Martin Ayankola and Vanguard’s Eze Anaba were nominated for the prize.

    Head of Investigation and multiple-award winner, Adekunle Yusuf won the Alex Ibru Prize for Investigative Reporter of the Year with his two-part entry: “Hospitals of death, tears and sorrow”. The Punch’s Toluwani Eniola and New Telegraph’s Dayo Ayeyemi were first and second runners-up.

    Taiwo Alimi, also a multiple-award winner and ace sport writer with The Nation on Sunday, won the Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year. His entry is “Making of Olympic Champions”. Taiwo beat Anthony Akaeze of Tell and New Telegraph’s Oyeleye Solomon Abiodun to the prize.

    An Assistant Editor on the Business Desk, Emeka Ugwuanyi, won the Peter Odili Power Reporter of the Year, beating New Telegraph’s Adeola Yusuf. Ugwuanyi’s winning entry is “Nigeria’s power sector woes: Undergoing greed or sabotage”.

    The Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year was won by Seun Akioye with his three-part report on: “From Paradise to Hell”.

    Travel & Tourism correspondent Uguru Okorie picked the prize for the Adamu Mu’azu Tourism Reporter of the Year. New Telegraph’s Catherine Ifunanya is runner-up.

    It was double honour for Collins Nweze, a multiple-award winning Finance Correspondent, who clinched two coveted prizes from his six nominations.

    Two entries – “How bank fleece customers” and “N1 billion Eurobond: Search for dollars continues” won Nweze the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year and the Access Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year respectively.

    A rights activist and freelancer with The Nation, Betty Abbah, won the Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year, with her entry: “If I were your daughter, would you ask me to get married at 16?” She beat The Punch’s Olakunle Falayi and New Telegraph’s Isioma Madike to the prize.

    All the nominees in the Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year category were of The Nation. One of them, Innocent Duru, with his entry: “Cries of slum children” won the prize.

    The NMMA panel of judges did not declare the winners in 10 categories in which The Nation writers had 11 nominations.

    The categories are: Alade Odunewu Prize for Columnist of the Year; Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year; Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the Year; Sonny Odogwu Prize for Business Reporter of the Year; Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for Cartoonist of the Year; and Ernest Sissei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year.

    They include:  Aviation Industry Reporter of the Year, Coca-Cola Nigeria Prize for Brand and Marketing Reporter of the Year, Nigerian Ports Authority Prize for Maritime Reporter of the Year, and UBA Prize for Money Market Reporter of the Year.

    Other reporters from The Nation on the nomination lists include: Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu (Politics); Associate Editor Olatunji Ololade (Human Rights); Associate Editor Olukorede Yishau (Columnist of the Year); Louis Odion (Columnist of the Year); Assistant Editor Sina Fadare (Human Rights); Joseph Jibueze (Human Rights and Feature Writing); Gboyega Alaka (Feature Writing); Wale Ajetunmobi (Foreign News Reporting); and Hannah Ojo (Newspaper Reporter of the Year and Agriculture).

    The prize for the Newspaper of the Year went to The Punch. The Nigerian Tribune won the prize for Editorial Writing of the Year. The Source won the WAMCO Prize for News Magazine of the Year. Business Day won the First Bank Prize for Business Publication of the Year.

    The multiple recognitions earned by the array of reporters on the The Nation’s platform showed improvement in quality and depth in news reporting and investigative journalism.

    Last week, this newspaper’s rich tradition of investigative journalism manifested at the yearly Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Award held on December 9 in Lagos.

    Head of Investigations Desk Yusuf won the grand prize with his three-part entry: “How corruption, favouritism thrive in UNILORIN”, published from March 14 to 16.

    The entry also won the print journalism category of the 2017 WSCIJ Report of the Year.

    The Nation also shone brightly at the 26th Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME ) on December 6, when it won three coveted prizes of the 13 categories for the print media.

    Ololade, a multiple award-winner, clinched two awards – the UNICEF Prize for Child-Friendly Reporting and Honorable Justice Moronkeji Onalaja Memorial Prize for Judicial Reporting.

    Ololade’s entry in the Child-Friendly Category entitled: “This child has no blame”, was published on July 23, 2016. His entry for Judicial Reporting entitled: “Life on death row: Tragic lives of Nigerian prisoners”, published on June 4, last year.

    Alimi won the S.O. Idowu Prize for Sport Reporting, beating The Punch’s Arukaino Umukoro and TELL’s Anthony Akaeze. Alimi’s entry entitled: The making of Olympic champions, also won the 2017 NMMA Sport Reporting Prize.

    Other reporters from The Nation, who shone at the DAME are Omotoso, Yusuf, Jibueze, Eric Ikhilae, Kunle Akinrinde, and Hannah Ojo.

    The Nation also came as first runner-up in the DAME Newspaper of the Year category. It was also nominated in the Tunji Oseni Memorial Prize for Editorial Writing and UNICEF Prize for Child Friendly Medium categories.

     

    Similar feats in 2016

     

    Year in, year out, The Nation has continued to walk shoulder high in its rating as Nigeria’s leading newspaper. It ended last year with 13 NMMA prizes from 26 nominations in the print journalism categories.

    In the same year, New Telegraph won in four categories, while The Punch won two prizes from its 14 nominations.

    The Nation’s star writer, Ololade, won three NMMA awards — Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year, Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year and Sonny Odogwu Prize for Business Reporter of the Year.

    Yusuf also won two awards — Adamu Mu’azu Prize for Tourism Reporter of the Year and Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the Year.

    An Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye, won the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Prize for Culture and Tradition Reporter of the Year. He was a runner-up in the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter category.

    Alaka, a correspondent on the Features Desk of The Nation on Sunday, won the Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the Year (2016).

    Senior Finance Correspondent Nweze won two prizes – the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year and the UBA Prize for Money Market Reporting.

    An Assistant Editor on the Business Desk Lucas Ajanaku won the MTN Prize for Telecommunication Reporting; Senior Correspondent Adeyinka Aderibigbe won the Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year, while Abiodun Williams won the Photographer of the Year.

    Reporter Hannah Ojo clinched the Etisalat Prize for Most Innovative Reporting.

    Others who made good showing in 2016 NMMA included: Fadare, Chikodi Okereocha, Jibueze, Cartoonist Azeez Ozi-Sanni and Olatunde Odebiyi, who were runners-up in various categories.

    At 2016 DAME, The Nation won five of the 20 prizes presented. Yusuf beat Mary Fadile of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to win the Nigerian Press Council Prize for Editorial Integrity.

    Okereocha, an Assistant Editor, picked two awards at the event. He won the News Agency of Nigeria Prize for Agriculture Reporting with his entry titled: “How smugglers hamper rice policy, frustrate investors”. Hannah Ojo was a finalist in this category.

    Okereocha’s second entry titled: “Devaluation: Harsh climate for manufacturers, workers”, won the Aliko Dangote Prize for Business Reporting. His colleague on the Business Desk, Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, was a finalist in the category with her entry: “Private sector grumbles as CBN defends its policies”.

    Jibueze also clinched two awards at the 2016 DAME. He won the Mobil Producing Prize for Energy Reporting and Justice Omotayo Onalaja Prize for Judicial Reporting.

    He won the Judicial Reporting Prize for the third consecutive time, becoming the first reporter with such feat in DAME’s history.

    Ozi-Sanni, was a finalist in the Vanguard Media Prize for Editorial Cartooning category with his entry: “Change, change.”

  • The Nation confirms class with harvest of 13 awards at NMMA

    The Nation confirms class with harvest of 13 awards at NMMA

    With 13 prizes at the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) in Lagos last night, The Nation has confirmed its rating as Nigeria’s leading newspaper.

    The awards were won out of the 26 nominations this newspaper received.

    New Telegraph won in four categories.  The Punch won two prizes from its 14 nominations.

    The Nation‘s star writer and Associate Editor Olatunji Ololade won three awards— Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year, Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporter of the Year and Sonny Odogwu Prize for Business Reporter of the Year.

    The Head of Investigation Desk and multiple-award winner Adekunle Yusuf also won two awards—Adamu Mu’azu Prize for Tourism Reporter of the Year and Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of the Year.

    An Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye, won the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Prize for Culture and Tradition Reporter of the Year. He was a runner-up in the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter category.

    A Correspondent on the Features Desk, The Nation on Sunday, Gboyega Alaka, won the Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the Year.

    Senior Finance Correspondent Collins Nweze  won  the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year and the UBA Prize for Money Market Reporting.

    An Assistant Editor on the Business Desk Lucas Ajanaku won the MTN Prize for Telecommunication Reporting.

    Senior Correspondent Adeyinka Aderibigbe won the Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year. Abiodun Williams won the Photographer of the Year.

    Reporter Hannah Ojo clinched the Etisalat Prize for Most Innovative Reporting.

    Others who made good showing in The Nation stable are Sina Fadare, Chikodi Okereocha, Joseph Jibueze, Azeez Ozi-Sanni and  Olatunde Odebiyi, who were runners –up in various categories.

    New Telegraph’s Isioma Madike won two prizes—Energy Correspondent of the Year and Insurance Reporter of the Year.  His colleagues, Oluwatosin Omoniyi (Agric Reporter of the Year) and Juliana Francis (Defence Reporter of the Year).

    The Punch reporters Arukaino Umukoro won Real Estate/Construction Reporter of the Year and Dayo Oketola won the Power Reporter of the Year.

    Abuja-based Daily Trust won the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year and its Editor Nasiru Lawal was declared Editor of the Year.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode congratulated the winners, saying it was reward for hard work. He advised journalists to uphold the culture of investigation, adding that they should beam their searchlight on the socio-economic development of the nation. He was represented by Special Adviser on Community Communication Kehinde Bamigbetan.

    Chairman of the NMMA Board of Trutees, Mr Vincent Maduka said: “We believe that the objectives that we seek to promote at NMMA should strengthen the Nigerian media in carrying out their responsibilities with diligence, ethics and professionalism.”

  • NMMA fixes December 18 for awards

    The 24th edition of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) will hold in Lagos on December 18. The event, which starts at 5 pm, will take place at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
    The date was announced by the organisers yesterday during the submission of evaluation reports by the Panel of Assessors to the NMMA’s Board of Trustees (BOT).
    In his remark, BOT Chairman Mr Vincent Maduka said the event marked the end of the assessors’ task in evaluating entries submitted for the award.
    He apologised for the delay in announcing the award date, citing the recession as reason.
    Giving the breakdown of awards, Maduka said 894 entries were received from 656 entrants.
    He said print journalism has the highest nominations, with 780 entries from 579 print journalists.
    Radio and Television journalists, he said, had 67 and 47 entries from 89 entrants.
    The BOT chairman said 10 categories would not be given out, noting that the affected awards were not advertised because organisers could not get sponsors.
    While handing over the evaluation reports, Chairman of the Panel of Assessors, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye, said prizes would not be given out in four advertised categories.
    The reason, he said, was because none of the entries got the 70 per cent benchmark to be shortlisted. This brings no-prize categories to 14.
    Akinfeleye said the assessors worked brilliantly in assessing nominated stories and clips, noting that the evaluation report was written without favour.
    The NMMA was established in 1990 and formally launched in 1991 to reward excellent reportage and professionalism of media