Winners have emerged in the 17th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting at the award ceremony held in Ikeja, Lagos on December 9, 2022.
During the award presentation ceremony which came under the theme “In-depth media and democratic governance”, the judges noted that the journalists who made the list for the awards, have in the course of their duties shown uncommon innovation and profundity, ethical journalistic courage, individual creativity and public benefit in their reports on clandestine activities, public or corporate corruption, human rights violation and the failure of regulatory agencies.
Hassan Adebayo of Premium Times won the overall investigative journalist of the year and the best investigative story for the online category with his Pandora Papers series, which unmasked the hidden owners of offshore companies, secret bank accounts, private jets, yachts, mansions and artworks among others.
Winners Of 17th Wole Soyinka Award For Investigative Reporting
Cartoon Category
Victor Asowata (Winner)
His cartoon work which illustrated how politicians weaponise poverty to trap the people in a vicious circle as to manipulate elections, while the police officer who should guard against it looks away won, and was published in the Will newspaper.
Chukwuemeka Emenike (Runner up). New Telegraph assistant Chief Cartoonist. His work depicted a satire of how the status of an individual rather than the offence determines the type of judgement he or she gets in Nigeria.
Photo Category
Deji Lambo (Winner)
His work: Pictures on ‘Poisonous ponmo: How Lagos traders sell cow-skin meat roasted with tyres, plastic pellets to unsuspecting Nigerians’ published on Punch won in the photo category.
Online Category
Taiwo-Hassan Adebayo ( Winner)
His work– “ Pandora series” published on PREMIUM TIMES.
Folashade Ogunrinde (Runner up)
Her work: ‘Policies and the people: How the Lagos state government’s mega city drive is worsening its housing deficit’ on TV360
Radio category
Babatunde Okunlola (Winner)
His work, a documentary titled ‘Gold rushes and land grabs’ detailing the illegal mining activities of Chinese miners in Ijesaland, Osun state, aired on diamond885 FM won.
Television Investigative Report
AbdulAziz AbdulAziz (Winner) Trust TV.
His work: on Nigeria’s Banditry.
Amadi Uyi (Runner Up)
His work on: “Abuja Land Racketeering- Government Officials Turn Blind Eye” aired by News Central Central Tv.
Print Category
Winner Juliana Francis (Winner)
Her work: “For filthy lucre, police truncate defilement, rape cases, deny victims justice” published on NewTelegraph.
2022 WSCIJ – Nigerian Investigative Reporter of the year
Taiwo-Hassan Adebayo
His work – “Pandora series” published on PREMIUM TIMES.
Honorary award
Human Rights defender Awards to Abiola Akiode of WARDC
Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence
Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News at TVC
Others like Olanrewaju Oyedeji of Dataphyte, Zainab Bala of Trust TV, and Gbenga Salau of The Guardian were commended for their bravery and dedication to carrying out investigative reports.
Chukwuemeka Emenike of the New Telegraph, Amandi Uyi of News Central, and Folashade Ogunrinde of TV360 Nigeria won the runners-up in the Cartoon, TV and Online categories respectively.
Obasa Olatunji, formerly a photojournalist with PUNCH was also recognised for a photo published on the front page of the newspaper about the mood of pensioners during a protest in Abuja.
The Chairperson, WSCIJ 2022 Judges’ Committee, Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, stated:
“Most of the stories show that we are just ‘sloganeering’ as a nation, on ‘Change Begins with Me’ as the campaign is largely focused on the governed without addressing those governing (i.e., public office holders – the elected, appointed and employed) in leadership positions in the country, which are the duty bearers.”
The Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka, said the 13 finalists were selected out of the 218 applications received for the award.
“The quality of journalism affects the quality of democracy. Accountability journalism and the democracy it supports, however, face threats daily. A day to celebrate our champions – the investigative journalists – who defy the odds, sacrifice personal interests and risk their lives in the line of duty for people and country is in order.
The cost of accountability journalism became even higher since 2020 as journalists faced the raging pandemic to get the stories despite unfavourable laws, the shutdown of many government institutions to reporters, job lay-offs, limited resources and the possibility of getting sick or dying. As Nigeria approaches another election year, the heat on our profession is fiercer.
Despite these numerous challenges, many journalists hold both government and citizens accountable. To acknowledge this endeavour which guarantees the sanctity of our civic space, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism has made it a duty to reward phenomenal works and encourage the culture of investigative journalism.”
The Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting honours outstanding journalists in the print, radio, television, photo, cartoon and online categories, who focus on themes from regulatory failures, corruption in the public and corporate spheres, and human rights abuses in the country. It has produced 109 finalists, 56 Soyinka laureates, and 12 investigative journalists.
