By Bimbola Oyesola
Two journalists from The Sun Publishing Limited stable at the weekend stole the show at the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award held in Lagos last Friday evening.
The duo, Gabriel Dike, Sun Newspaper education correspondent won the prime award of the ‘NB Report of the Year’ with his entry, “Anambra week of glory” while the Sun’s ace photographer, Dele Ojo, was the second runner up in the photo journalist category.
In addition to the golden trophy awarded to all winners, Dike got N500,000 as cash price. Other winners at the event include Tobi Aworinde of The Punch, who emerged the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year. The first runner-up was Gbenga Salau of The Guardian while Charles Abah, also of The Punch emerged as the second runner-up.
The Photo Journalist of the Year award went to Sodiq Adelakun of The Punch. Odutayo Odusanya also of The Punch emerged as the first runner-up.
All the winners also got N50,000 cash reward from the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who was the special guest of honour.
The event was the 8th in the series aimed at promoting professionalism and objective reportage of events in Nigeria. It is also meant to reward media excellence and outstanding journalism practice and to reward journalists who abide by the fine ethics of the journalism profession.
The event attracted dignitaries from the nation’s media, political and social circles including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, among others, who came to celebrate journalists that submitted outstanding reports on Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development in 2015.
All the winning journalists got cash prizes and high-end mobile devices as part of the reward package.
While welcoming guests at the event, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde said that the award was launched eight years ago to promote professionalism and objectivity of media reports. He explained that the choice of Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development as the focus of this year’s edition, like in the last two years, is hinged on the fact that no country can lay claim to development and prosperity without adequate attention to the education and empowerment of the youth.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was present at the event, praised Nigerian Breweries for sustaining the award for over eight years and saluted the courage of journalists for their contribution to the nation’s development. He appealed to the media to continue to be the watchdog and gatekeeper of the nation’s democracy.
John Momoh, chairman and chief executive of Channels Television, who was the guest speaker at the event, called for soul-searching by the media.
Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, managing director of Tanus Communications and chairman of the panel of judges commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative and enjoined journalists to aspire to the highest standards.
The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, noted that a total of 267 entries were received when submission closed for the award. He explained that the award criteria of quality, professionalism and objectivity remain the filters upon which entries were shortlisted for the award, as decided by the independent panel