The Guardian shines at DAME 2024, wins highest in individual categories

The Guardian at the weekend won the highest number of individual awards at the 33rd Diamond Awards for media excellence held in Lagos State.

The newspaper also won the 7th edition of the .ng awards organised by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), for the best Print media website for year 2024, at Muson center Onikan, Lagos.

The newspaper got the Best Print Media Website award, ahead of other nominees including Business Day, Leadership and Daily Posts.

The .ng best Print media award was judged based on the level of local, original and undiluted content promoted by media houses and their websites.

At DAME, The Guardian won three individual categories while Punch and The Nation won two each, though they had more category nominations than The Guardian.

Aside from the individual categories, The Guardian as a Newspaper and the Daily Editor, Dr Femi Adekoya, were adjudged second runners-up in the Newspaper and Editor of the Year categories.

In the Health category, Eno-Abasi Asuquo Sunday of The Guardian was declared the winner while Sodiq Ojuroungbe of Punch who had two nominations was declared the first and second runner-ups.

Also, the Sport Category was won by Christian Okpara of The Guardian who doubled as the first runner-up as he had two nominations while Taiwo Alimi of The Nation was the second runner-up.

Similarly, in the Energy Reporting category, Kingsley Jeremiah of The Guardian was declared the winner while Samuel Ajala of Premium Times and Shola O’Neil of The Nation were the first and the second runner ups respectively.

On the night too, two senior journalists, Publisher of Business Day, Mr Frank Aigbogun was awarded DAME Lifetime Achievement Award while Mr Kunle Ajibade was conferred DAME honourary fellowship award.

Other awards included The Best Designed Newspaper, which was won by Daily Trust, with Daily Sun emerging the first runner up while Leadership Newspaper was the second runner-up.

In the Education reporting category, Taiwo Adebulu of TheCable won the category, while Mohammed Dahiru Lawal of Daily Nigerian and Sodiq Ojuroungbe of Punch were declared first and second runner-ups respectively.

In the Judicial reporting category, Henry Ojelu of Vanguard won the category while Lukman Abolade of The Punch was first runner-up and Tunde Ajaja of The Punch was second runner-up.

For the News Photography category, Saheed Olugbon was declared the winner while Olalekan Salau was the second runner-up.

Editorial writing was won by The Nation while Lasisi Olagunju won the Informed commentary category with Azu Ishiekwene who had two nominations declared first and second runner-ups.

For the Child-friendly reporting, Innocent Duru of The Nation won it while Dare Akogun of DA News was first runner-up, with Jide Babalola of The Nation declared the second runner-up.

Ibrahim Adeyemi of Premium Times was the winner of the Lagos reporting category, while Johnson Idowu of Punch was first runner-up with Awosiyan Olakunle of EchoNews was the second runner-up.

In the Niger Delta Development Reporting category, was won by Arinze Chijioke of Prime Progress while Emmanuel Onwuka of ParallelTV News was the second runner up.

Solid Minerals Reporting was won by Justice Nwafor of Tribune, Dare Akogun of DA News and Chikodi Anthony were first and second runner ups respectively.

Child friendly photography category was won by Olukayode Jaiyeola of The Punch while Elliot Ovadje of Punch and Temitope Aina of The Sun were first and second runner ups respectively.

In the Television reporting category, while all the nominees are of Arise News, Nkechi Nnanna was declared the winner, while Adetokunbo Oyetunji was the first runner-up and Ovieteme George was the second runner-up.

The Lanre Idowu in his welcome address stated that one central message across the reports that got nominated is one of hope and the need for a better society.

He added that from the reports the Nigerian media has high news judgement though there is a need for better treatment, depth and engagement in solution journalism.

He further said that the award is a token of appreciation to do better and continue to do good work.