AN INVESTIGATIVE  journalist with The International Center for Investigative Reporting, Abuja, Olugbenga Adanikin has been announced by ActionAid Nigeria as the most outstanding journalist of the year in 2018.

Adanikin was named the winner in the male category of the award at a dinner held at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja on Friday.

His entry examined the plight of rural farmers in the country who official records show that, 100 milling centers were built in their various communities to ease the production of locally milled rice but his piece revealed that the milling plants were non – existent.

Three months after his report, the Federal government approved the disbursement of the rice processing machines to the affected rural areas.

The entries for the award were praised by the jury for the extensive fieldwork, consultation with experts and provision of evidence-based investigative stories which uncovered a form of injustice and resulted in positive actions that benefitted vulnerable groups.

Journalists based in Abuja, who are active members of the Journalist Against Poverty Platform, a coalition of journalists working to amplify voices of vulnerable groups and promote social justice through their style of reporting were considered for the inaugural award.

ActionAid and its partner – Journalists Against Poverty (JAP) empower journalists through counterpart funding to examine the damage of corruption, social injustice, and poverty have done to the country and its citizens, and lead the campaign against the vices through their writings.

Arit Effanga of CTV Abuja, was named the winner in the female category.

At the event, MacJohn Nwaobiala, a member of ActionAid Nigeria’s Board of Trustees commended the winners and urged them to remain committed to the ideals of ActionAid worldwide which involves transparency, accountability, equity and justice for all.