7th December, 2010
The award presentation ceremony of the Fifth Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting holds on Thursday 9 December, 2010 at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, by 5 p.m.
This year, the event, which will be chaired by the Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, plans to reward the works of seven Nigerian journalists in print, broadcast (Radio and TV), photojournalism, online journalism and climate change reporting and, for the first time, the local government category.
The award win will include a cash prize, a lap top, one year internet access and an all expense paid international exposure opportunity.
Two runners-up in each of the categories will also receive certificates of commendation.
Apart from the merit awards, there would be two honorary awards; lifetime award for journalistic excellence and anti corruption defender award and six service award for five serving judges and support organizations.
The life time award for journalistic excellence will be given to Dr. Doyin Abiola and the Anti-corruption Defender Award, which is done in collaboration with other civil society organisations, will be presented post-humously to Chief Gani Fawehinmi and received on behalf of his family by his wife Mrs. Ganiyat Fawehinmi.
The award event day bears particular significance as it is the world anti corruption day.
Guests expected at the event include: Mr. Berend Jan Ronhaar, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bob Dewar, British High Commissioner to Nigeria; Ms. Linda Nwoke, the BBC World Service Trust Country Director; Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Justice Bunmi Oyewole among others.
The award programme is supported with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and support from the British Embassy, Z-Mirage lights and sound, sunset café, Marthas Décor and a number of media houses.
The Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting which was first held in October, 2005 to encourage the development of an investigative tradition in the Nigerian media through rigorous scrutiny of human rights violations, regulatory failures and corruption in the public and corporate departments of the nation’s life has so far rewarded 19 journalists who are called ‘Soyinka Laureates.’
A judges board comprising nine top local and international professionals with impeccable character and integrity will select winners for the award.
