Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim, creative writer and fellow of the African Investigative Journalism, has emerged the overall winner of the inaugural Lekan Otufodunrin Student Journalists Award.
The Lekan Otufodunrin Student Journalists Award is an award in honour of Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, which seeks to recognize outstanding student journalists in Nigeria. The award was initiated by his former junior colleagues, Shehu Olayinka and Late Yinka Akintunde.
Auwal Ibrahim emerged as the overall winner for his story entry titled; “INVESTIGATION: How Nigerian State Governments Poorly Interacted with Citizens via Emails During COVID-19 Pandemic, Despite ICT Advancement”. His story entry was published on Abuja Business Reports.
The first runner up is Fasilat Oluwuyi, a Campus Journalist and a recent graduate of Mass Communication of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta, for her story entry on “Between Waters and Fishes: How water pollution set lingering crisis for Ogun fishermen” which was published on Platform Times.
Oluwatobi Odeyinka emerged as the second runner up for his story entry titled – “INVESTIGATION: Agency diverts boreholes to ex-head of state’s residence, lawmaker’s farm, while community drinks from stream” which was published on Premium Times.
The overall winner will receive N70,000, the first runner up will receive N50,000 and the second runner up will receive N30,000.
Mr. Lekan Otufodurin, while announcing the winner during a webinar to mark his 57th birthday, noted that the judges believed that Auwal Ibrahim’s story addressed a critical issue of public interest.
“The story’s depth exposes government at all level continuous lack of understanding of the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in ordinary citizens’ day-to-day lives,” the judges remarked.
READ ALSO – https://bonewssng.com/otufodunrin-tasks-young-journalists-on-solution-journalism/
Responding on behalf of all the winners, Ibrahim expressed his delight and tasked that journalism be used to promote public good.
The President of the National Union of Campus Journalists, NUCJ, Ajala Samuel Akindele, announced that the union will be naming an award after Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin and Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times.
Participants at the webinar commended Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin for his support to young journalists though trainings and mentorship. They also shared the various level of impact Mr. Lekan has made on their career progress.