The Guardian wins four categories at 2024 NMMA

The Guardian Newspaper, yesterday, won four of the categories at the 2024 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA). In all, it had 13 nominations. The winners were Tobi Awodipe, who won the Bashorun M.K.O Abiola Prize for Sports Reporter of the Year, Eno Abasi Sunday won the Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Reporter of the Year, Gregory Nwakunor won the Keystone Bank Prize for CSR Reporter of the Year and Kingsley Jeremiah won the Chevron Nigeria Prize for the Oil and Gas Reporter of the year.

Others who made it to the nomination stage are Adaku Onyenucheya, who had two entries for the Sonny Odogwu Prize for Business Reporter of the Year, Gbenga Salau was nominated for the Adamu Muazu Prize for Tourism Reporter, Buba Marwa Prize for Defence Reporter and the Alex Ibru Prize for the Investigative Reporter.

Similarly, Godwin Ijediogor was nominated for the Lateef Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year, while Adeyemi Adepetun was nominated for the Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year. Another of Eno Abasi-Sunday’s entry made it to the Ernest Sisei Ikoli Prize for Newspaper Reporter.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NMMA, Dr Dayo Duyile said that as a pioneer in media awards, the NMMA has been leading and still leading.

“I refused to agree with those who say that the standard has fallen. What has happened is that the investment in media dropped. President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammed Idris Malagi, commended those who instituted the award, asking that the award be sustained.

He noted that Nigerian journalists are known for distinguishing themselves anywhere they find themselves. He also said that his administration is doing everything within the law to devolve more powers to local councils and ensure financial autonomy to the council.

The president called on the media to amplify a positive narrative about the good efforts of his administration for Nigerians to be properly guided. He assured that press freedom will be upheld. He congratulated all the winners and their media organisations as well as the honourees.

On his part, the Chairman, Panel of Assessors, Dele Adetiba, said about 1,000 entries were received for this year’s NMMA. He said the entries that emerged the winners in all the categories scored at least 70 per cent and were worthy of the reputation of the sponsors of the categories.