Kwara State correspondent of Daily Trust Newspaper, Mumini Abdulkareem, has emerged the best journalist in the state.
This is the second time he would win the award since joining the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara Council in 2021.
He had also emerged as best reporter in politics, community reporting, sports development reporting and sports in previous editions of the event and other media fora in the state.
Announcing the award, the anchor of the programme, Alhaji Biola Azeez of Tribune Newspaper, described the recipient as a hardworking and dedicated journalist who has leveraged on the Daily Trust platforms to advance reportage in the state.
Azeez added that the award which was presented to him by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq represented by Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salaudeen, was “well deserved”.
In his speech, the Governor said the state government in the last five years had created a conducive environment for journalists to operate.
“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has turned around the state media houses, with working journalists appointed to man them as general managers.
“The government will continue to partner with the chapel’s NUJ council, for the overall development of the state,” he declared.
In his remarks, the Guest Speaker, Professor Lukman Adeshina Azeez of the University of Ilorin, tasked Nigerian journalists to hold political office holders accountable.
According to him, journalists should monitor and investigate all forms of corruption.
Speaking through a representative, Oluwakemi Akerele, Lukman lamented the challenges confronting Nigerian journalists, including poor remuneration and insecurity, among others.
He, however, charged men of the pen profession in the country to discharge their duties with all truth and credibility.
The chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Abdulhakeem Garba, asserted that good governance only thrives when paired with effective journalism.
“As journalists, we are expected to expose the truth, promote transparency and accountability, hold leaders accountable for their actions and amplify their achievements, among others,” he said.
Garba also called on the national leadership of the union to hearken to the call and cries of the members nationwide to revive the moribund insurance cover for the members.
He said media houses were not exempted from the current economic crunch; hence, publishers and media owners should give priority to the idea of insurance for members.
The chapel chairman further called on the National Assembly to immediately make a law making it a crime for any journalist to be attacked while performing legal duties.
Other winners at the event included Nicholas Uwerunonye of Daily Independent (Sports), Stephen Oni of New Telegraph (Print), AIT’s Olufemi Akobi Broadcast) Afusat Agunbiade, NAN (Judiciary) and Sikirat Shehu of Business Day (Business).
The list also include Lukman Oyedeji of Channels TV (Best Cameraman), Oyetunde Oyekola of The Punch (Politics), Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus of NAN (Features) and Umar AbdulWahab of Blueprint (Health).
Daily Trust reports that the event climaxed the three day activities of the Press Week which began on Tuesday with interfaith prayer and health.
On Tuesday, the entire members travelled to the sprawling Pinnacle Resource Centre in Offa Local Government Area where they engaged in sporting activities and entrepreneurship opportunities lecture by SMEDAN.
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