Outstanding
journalism and media excellence were rewarded and celebrated last weekend at
the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Awards held in Lagos.
The
award, which is in its 10th year, is geared towards promoting
professionalism and objective reportage of events in Nigeria. It is also meant
to reward journalists who abide by the fine ethics of their profession.
In the night of glitz and
glamour, Eric Dumo of The Punch
newspapers emerged the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year. The first runner-up
was Bayo Akinloye of Thisday
Newspapers while Chikodi Okereocha of The
Nation was the second runner-up.
The Photo Journalist of the Year award went to
Bunmi Azeez of Vanguard newspapers. Odutayo Odesanya of the Punch emerged the first runner-up, while Lucy Ladidi of The Guardian Newspapers was the second
runner-up.
Mojeed Alabi, a reporter with the New Telegraph repeated his last year’s
feat by winning the ‘NB Report of the Year’.
A cash prize of
N2 million plus a gift went to the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of
the Year, while the first runner got N1 million and the second runner up went home with N750,000.
In the Photojournalist category, the
overall winner received N1 million plus a gift item while the first and second
runners-up were rewarded with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.
The winner of the Nigerian Breweries
Golden Pen Report of the Year received N1 million and a gift item.
In his welcome address, Managing Director
of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borut Bel noted that since inception, the initiative has helped to
enhance journalism practice in Nigeria, going by the quality of the entries received
every year as attested to by the distinguished independent panel of judges.
He
explained that between 2014 and 2016, the theme of the award was Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent
Development, which he said was informed by the need to inspire the media to
draw attention of stakeholders to the benefits of revamping Nigeria’s education
sector and develop the innate potential and talents of Nigeria’s teeming youth
population.
“With
the completion of that three-year phase, we directed the attention of the
Nigerian media to Agriculture, Local Sourcing and Industrial Development, as
the thrust for the 9th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award. This theme
remains the focus for this milestone 10th edition of the awards.
“The
emphasis on Agriculture, Local Sourcing and Industrial Development is not only
in tandem with the current push for economic recovery in the country, but also
key to making it achieve her full potential to become a self-reliant nation, “
he said.
Professor Ralph
Akinfeleye, Chairman of the Panel of Judges of the NB Golden Pen Award,
commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative and enjoined journalists to
aspire to the highest standards. He maintained that the quality and quantity of
entries have improved significantly and noted that Nigerian Breweries has set a
standard for other organisations to follow.
Speaking on Media and the
Agenda setting for Economic Development, the guest speaker at the occasion, Dr.
Reuben Abati thanked Nigerian Breweries for the initiative which he said is
capable of motivating journalists in Nigeria towards excellence.
While maintaining that
the diversification of Nigeria’s economy has remained a topical agenda, he
challenged the media to emphasise the story of diversification and generate
conversation by emphasising the story and picture in the minds of the people.
He challenged the media
to support the efforts to domesticate the Nigerian economy, maintaining that
Nigerian Breweries has set a worthy example on how to grow agriculture and
local industry.
Since its inception, the award has produced ten
grand prize winners in the Journalist of the Year category, seven grand prize
winners in the Photo Journalist of the Year category and five others in the
Report of the Year category.
Comments
Post a Comment