Jimoh Babatunde
18 November 2008
Two journalists from the Vanguard Newspaper stable, Messrs. Jimoh Babatunde and a photo journalist, Mr Kehinde Gbadamosi raised the Newspaper stake as they emerged winners at this year's Nigerian National Media Merit Awards (NNMMA).
The yearly event, the 16th edition hosted by Kano State government saw 200 contestants going home with 64 prizes.
The Vanguard's Jimoh Babatunde, went home with the Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture reporter of the year and Kehinde Gbadamosi winning the News Photographer of the year.
At the occasion, the hosting Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau joined the call for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill by the National Assembly just as he charged Media practitioners to place national interest first in the dissemination of information.
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, governor of Kano State said he believed the bill if passed will enhance checks and balance in governance in the country.
"We support the Freedom of Information Bill in the country because we believe it will enhance checks and balance in governance in the country."
Speaking through his Deputy, Tijani Gwarizo, Shekarau said that journalists need to do more to convince the Nigerian Public and the country's lawmakers that the bill would not be abused. The Governor while calling on media practitioners to ensure they put national interest first in disseminating information said majority of Nigerians who are illiterate based their opinion on press reports.
"Therefore as opinion molders, you need to be very objective and speak only the truth as dictated by the ethics guiding your profession, so that you will not mislead the people."
Governor Shekarau said if there is a body that can reward excellence in journalism, there should also be a body to investigate complaints against reckless journalism and mete out punishment to the offender "I wish to call on the Federal Government and all stakeholders to reconstitute the Nigerian Press Council to instill discipline among members of the Nigerian Press and impose sanctions among members of the profession and media organisation which engaged in unethical practices."
In his address, the Nigerian Media Merit Award Board of Trustees Chairman, Alade Odunewu, who was represented by Segun Olusola, a member of the Board of Trustees described the NMMA as the most prestigious in Nigeria, established to promote excellence in the media, and which "has over the years earned recognition and respect of the media industry, the government, and corporate bodies, among others."
He noted, the role of the media remains challenging and demanding as the society continues to grow and embrace development in all its facets, he noted, likewise socio economic and political factors, the global economic twist, and the effects on wellbeing which provide a myriad of challenges to the media.
According to him, the role of the NMMA is to look out for individuals, groups, and organisations that are- despite odds, challenges, distraction, and temptations - committed to the pursuit of excellence and to honour them.
The occasion which was witnessed by veteran journalists, among them former Information Minister, Tony Momoh, who chaired the NMMA Nominating Panel. He told the gathering that 46 awards were up for grabs in print, radio and television. Print had the largest number of 34, radio (six), and television (six).
He recounted how the panel was inaugurated in July this year, with the 25 members comprising knowledgeable and reputable media personalities, including practitioners, academics, critics, and consumers, who made the assessments based on the criteria supplied by the NMMA.
Independent Newspapers clinched the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year Award as well as the Editor of Year, won by its Editor, Ikechukwu Amaechi.
Other award winners include Tope Adeboboye of The Sun, who got the Abubakar Imam Prize for Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year, Arulkini Umukora of National Standard (Olu Aboderin Prize for Entertainment Reporter of the Year), Olu Ojewale of Tell (Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Correspondent of the Year).
Adeniyi Kolawole of Broad Street Journal (UBA Prize for Money Market Reporter of the Year), Ronke Grace Olawale of The Guardian (Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter of the Year).
Oluwasenu Gbalabode of IT Telecom Digest (MTN Prize of Telecommunication Reporter of the Year), Babatunde Jumoh of The Vanguard (Bukola Saraki Prize for Agriculture Reporter of the Year), Adekunle Yusuf of Tell (Oyinlola Prize for Culture and Tradition Reporter of the Year).
Olukayode Thomas of The Guardian (Bashorun Abiola Prize for Sports), Philip Akinsitan of Tourism Digest (Ahmad Adamu Mu'azu for Travel and Tourism), and Tony Manuaka, who won Intercontinental Prize for Capital Market Reporter.
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