The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has said it will be honoring an outstanding investigative journalist with its prestigious award, as well as a N1million cash prize at the forthcoming Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards night.
President of the Union, Chris Isiguzo, who made this announcement at a pre-event press conference in Abuja, said the award would be in recognition of reports that has led to systems improvement and engendered the citizens’ better quality of life.
He disclosed that the Press Freedom Awards, comprising seven categories, will honor journalists and media houses that have championed press freedom and defended the principles of transparency and accountability.
According to Isiguzo, the category, “Best Investigative Reporter of the Year Award,” will be presented to the journalist who has conducted outstanding investigative reporting with significant national and international impact, leading to systemic improvements and enhancing the quality of life for citizens.
He said “Press Freedom Awards celebrate the important principles of press freedom, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Stressing the importance of press freedom to vibrant democracy, the NUJ president said, “The press is the fourth arm of government and recognised so in the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended. It is the duty of the press to hold government and citizens accountable at different levels. Herein lies our decision this year to combine the Good Governance Awards together with the Press Freedom Awards.
“The Good Governance Awards will serve as a veritable barometer for assessing good governance, promote accountability of elected and appointed public office holders as well as leaders in publicly quoted companies.
“Furthermore, the Good Governance Awards will engender peer review and competition among political office holders and business leaders, and educate the citizens to hold their leaders accountable.
“Press Freedom therefore is a catalyst for good governance, and good governance makes dividends of democracy available to citizens in real terms.
“Many journalists in Nigeria have faced harassment, threat, physical injury, imprisonment, and even death in the course of discharging their legitimate duties. It is the courage and sacrifice of these journalists that we are celebrating by organising the 2024 Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards.”
He further explained that the seven categories will include the ‘Torch Bearers of Press Freedom Awards’ to be given to journalists who have faced harassment, physical injury, imprisonment or death in their line of duty.
The ‘Best Investigative Reporter of the Year Award’ will be given to the reporter who has done the best investigative reporting in the year under review.
Also, the ‘Press Freedom Platform Awards’ will be given to media houses that have supported press freedom, while the ‘Corporate Friend of the Media Awards’ will be given to corporate organisations that have supported press freedom.
Meanwhile, the ‘Defender of Press Freedom Awards’ will be given to experienced journalists and other Nigerians that have actively defended press freedom, while the ‘LifeTime Achievement Awards’ will be given to those who have shown resilience in supporting press freedom and/or have provided media platforms for journalists to practice their craft, the ‘Distinguished Friend of the Press Awards’ will be given to public and political office holders who have made outstanding contribution to the defence or support of press freedom.
On the other hand, the Good Governance Awards will be in 22 categories, to recognise outstanding contributions in Roads Construction, healthcare, education, agriculture, economic development, ICT, CSR, amongst others.
Nomination of individuals and corporate bodies for the different categories of awards opens February 15, 2024 and ends on March 28, 2024. Nominations should be sent by e-mail with supporting documents to:
pressfreedomandgoodgovernanceawards.nuj.ng
The Awards Night and dinner will hold on May 4, 2024 at the Grand Ball Room, Abuja Continental Hotel (Former Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers) as part of NUJ’s celebration of 2024 World Press Freedom Day.
