The Guardian wins Child Friendly medium at DAME 2021
Chief Executive, Media Review, Lanre Idowu (left); Ambassador Andrey Ajose and Lifetime Achievement awardee, Lade Bonuola at the 2021 DAME awards in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI<br />
The Guardian has emerged as the winner of the Child-Friendly medium at the 2021 Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME).
The ceremony was held at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan, Lagos, yesterday.
The Guardian emerged winner because of what the organisers said was the newspaper’s treatment of issues concerning children.
They noted that the paper was chosen not because of the child-friendly mentions in the paper, but entire reportage and editorials, which lament the plight of the Nigerian child.
The paper was also the second runner up in five other categories, namely the Best Designed Newspaper and Best Designed Media website, Editorial Writing, Newspaper of The Year and the Editor of The Year.
For his immense contributions to the media profession, former Managing Director of The Guardian, Mr. Oyinlade Bonuola, popularly known as Ladbone, was honoured with the 2021 Dame Lifetime Achievement award.
According to the organisers of DAME, “for his commitment to responsible journalism evidenced in his output in the last 50 years. In him, we see a defender of professional standards, an advocate of a strong and responsible media, a courageous patriot, who is ever ready to lend his voice to the search for meaning and morality in public life.”
DAME honoured its first set of Lifetime Achievers in 2007 with three giants in the profession, Babatunde Jose, Alade Odunewu and Sam Amuka. Since then the list has continued to grow. The late Publisher of The Guardian, Dr. Alex Ibru, was honoured at the 20th edition in 2011.
Sir Folu Olamiti, Gbenga Omotosho and Gbenga Adefaye were named the first honourees of DAME Fellowship awards.
Lanre Idowu said the journey started on March 20, 1992, in Lagos.
