THISDAY Editor Named Newspaper Reporter of the Year

Adeola Akinremi, (Left) receiving the award

The panel of judges for the Nigeria Media Merit Award, the biggest journalism award in Nigeria, has named the Features Editor of THISDAY, Adeola Akinremi, as the Newspaper Reporter of the Year in the 24th edition of its awards held in Owerri, Imo State, at the weekend.

In a night packed with who-is-who in Nigerian journalism, Akinremi was announced the winner of the most coveted award for his story, “Oba of Benin Reveals the Pathetic, Filthy State of Lagos-Kano Train”, published on June 24, 2013 in THISDAY.

The most prized category of the awards was keenly contested by Akinremi and Isioma Madike of New Telegraph, whose two entries (written for National Mirror newspaper) in the category failed to clinch the award.

“I am excited that the award came our way at THISDAY. Good journalism has been my focus over the years and I am happy there is a reward for good journalism,” said an elated Akinremi.

According to the Chairman, Panel of Assessors, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye, who teaches Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, “The entries for this year have been the largest number we have ever recorded in the history of these awards, with 53 award categories across print, radio and television media.

“There was a significant increase of about 36 per cent in the number of entries received for NMMA 2014 compared to that of 2013 which had a total of 952 eligible entries received from 632 entrants, as against a total of 1,307 eligible entries received from 886 entrants in 2014.”

Akinfeleye added: “As is usual with us, the winners of this year’s awards have been meticulously selected by our Panel of Assessors after months of rigorous screening of works done by the entrants in 2013.”

Other winners at the ceremony included Adekunle Yusuf (The Nation), who won three awards out of the 53 categories; Muyiwa Lucas (Tell), who was also recognised as a winner in three categories; Olatunji Ololade and Seun Akioye (The Nation), who both won two awards each in different categories.

Gbenga Ogundare (National Standard) emerged winner of the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year. The Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of the Year was awarded to Sulaimon Olanrewaju (Tribune). The Conoil Prize for Energy Correspondent of the Year was awarded to Adedayo Oketola (The Punch) and News Photographer of the Year award was won by Olaoluwa Chris Mimiola (Tribune). Nigerite Prize for Real Estate/Construction Reporter of the Year was awarded to Azuh Maureen (The Punch) and the Intercontinental Bank Prize for Capital Market Reporter of the Year was won by Nnorom Nkiruka Eucharia (Vanguard).

The Radio Reporter of the Year was awarded to Adebayo Solomon of FRCN Abuja, while Pepple Ibifubara of FRCN Network got the Radio Presenter of the Year award.

The George Bako Prize for Radio Broadcaster of the Year was won by Jones Usen of Radio Continental, while Radio Production of the Year was awarded to Yewande Iwuoha of Raypower.

The Television Reporter of the Year award was given to Ayoola Kazeem of Channels Television, while Oluseun Olagunju of NTA won the Television Newscaster of the Year award.

The Prize for the Editor of the Year was given to Martin Ayankola of The Punch, with the paper also declared the Newspaper of the Year.
Steve Osuji of The Nation won the Prize of Columnist of the Year, while the award for Editorial Writing of the Year was given to The Guardian.

Tell Magazine, Channels Television and RayPower won in the categories Magazine, Television and Radio of the Year respectively, while the Business Publication of the Year was awarded to Business Day.

Each of the winners of the NMMA 2014 received the Gong of Excellence, a certificate and a token of N100,000 at the award presentation ceremony which seemed to ensure that almost every media house got something out of the competition.

Source:thisday