Upcoming journalists need to be diligent, committed , says Jeremiah

The Guardian reporter, Kingsley Jeremiah, has advised upcoming journalists to be diligent and dedicated to what they are doing. He spoke on Sunday while fielding questions after he won three awards at 2023 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA).

Jeremiah won the Peter Odili Prize for Power Reporter of the Year, Conoil Prize for Energy Correspondent of the Year and Chevron Nigeria Prize for Oil and Gas Reporter of Year

While dedicating the award to his late father Obaje Jeremiah and his former boss, said: “My late dad loved diligence, dedication and honesty. I owe these awards to him, because whenever I think about his legacies, I’m usually encouraged to be the best in whichever environment I find myself. My former boss, Augustus Itua, also taught me a lot around diligence and the need to be the best version since I have chosen journalism. I will dedicate the awards to this outstanding personalities.”

He added, “I didn’t do anything special apart from doing my jobs as a journalist and then submitting my stories for awards. I think as a journalist, your primary responsibility is to hold the government and people accountable. What is worth doing at all is what doing well; you need to be consistent in doing that and do it diligently for the good of humanity irrespective of who is involved. There is nothing as fulfilling as causing a change with compelling stories. The Guardian offers opportunities to tell good stories. Beyond the classroom, I learnt journalism here and I don’t see gatekeeping against good stories. Nobody cares about whatever differences you have with them when it comes to writing compelling stories.”

Advising upcoming journalists, he noted, “Nigeria is in need of good journalists. The moment you transform your mind and understand your place in the society, you will thrive.”

In his speech, Chairman of the Nigeria Media Merits Award, Dr. Dayo Duyile, acknowledged all honourees and nominees while commending journalists and editors for their works.

Duyile stated the NMMA had 11 categories when it started, but has now risen to 51. He revealed that the award had 25 screening committee members.
He also added that no nominee got less than 70 per cent before being considered for the prize, and encouraged everyone to continue giving his or her best.

To him: “The cash prize and the material gifts are just to encourage and celebrate with your people as it is not enough to reward your entries which are greater than the materials. We however thank our sponsors who have done this to encourage you. This will enable you to buckle your belts.”

The Publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, was also honoured with the distinguished National Leadership Award.
In her acceptance speech, she thanked the organisers of the awards scheme. She also thanked her husband, the late Dr. Alex Ibru, for allowing her to be Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Guardian.

She, however, said it was her background. She recollected how her husband went to serve the military government under the late Sani Abacha and how they had a misunderstanding over a concluded decision from the Provisional Supreme Council meeting.

The Publisher stated that her husband’s decision to stand firm for justice led to him being hunted by Abacha and being shot. She maintained that her husband was a decent man, who was bold.

The Guardian was nominated in the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the year. A former staff of The Guardian, Iremeka Chijoke, won the IGI Prize for Insurance Reporter of the Year for the report he did while in the newspaper.

Olaiya Temitope and Iremeka Chijoke were nominated in the Olusegun Mimiko Prize for Foreign News Reporter of the Year with Iremeka getting another nomination in the Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year.

Also, Gbenga Salau was nominated in the Keystone Bank Prize for CSR Reporter of the Year and Coca-Cola Prize for Brand and Marketing Reporter, just as Adepetun Adeyemi was nominated in the MTN Prize for Telecommunications Reporter of the Year and Union Bank Prize for Banking and Finance Reporter of the Year.