The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) on Friday rewarded journalists who have distinguished themselves in investigative journalism in Nigeria.
The centre urged the awardees and other media practitioners in the country to be more investigative in their practice in order to hold the government accountable and tackle corruption.
The Executive Director of WSCIJ, Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, gave the charge during a two-day Amplify In-depth Media (AIM) Conference and 17th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) which ended in Lagos on Friday.
Alaka said that the event which was organised by the centre and supported by MacArthur Foundation was aimed at providing a platform for the global audience to reflect on the state of democracy.
She said it was organised to also reflect on the media profession and the practice of investigative journalism as well as decide on strategies to amplify the importance of works done by investigative reporters in Nigeria and Africa.
She however said that despite the numerous challenges faced by journalists, many of them had succeeded in holding citizens and the government accountable.
Alaka commended journalists who put in hard work to investigate and amplify the voices of the marginalised in society as well as those who strived to win the Wole Soyinka 2022 award.
“To every investigative journalist swimming against the tides to get this work done, we acknowledge your tenacity. We also acknowledge the sacrifice of the community stakeholders who supplied needed information,” she said.
He said that of the 218 journalists who applied for the award, WSCIJ shortlisted 13 for the 2022 award, adding that the centre had made it a duty to reward phenomenal works and encourage the culture of investigative journalism.
The Chairman of the Board of Judges 2022 Wole Soyinka Award, Prof. Abigail Ndisika also noted the importance of the media holding the government and the citizens to account.
Ndisika, a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, highlighted the major threats disinformation posed to society, especially during the elections.
She urged journalists to build up needed skills to combat the challenges or threats they faced in society.
The chairman of the board also enjoined journalists to report more stories about women, people with disabilities and those in the hinterland.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the centre rewarded 109 finalists and 56 with Soyinka laureate as well as 12 for investigative journalism.
The centre also presented the Excellence and the Anti-Corruption Human Rights Defenders Awards to 26 deserving Nigerians.
The overall winner of the 2022 award, Hasan Adebayo of the Premium Times received a laptop, N200,000 cash and sponsorship for an international trip.
