SIX Nigerians from various media organisations including a reporter from The ICIR, Kunle Adebajo, have emerged finalist for the 2019 edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Awards (WAMECA).
The information disclosed on its official website stated WAMECA 2019 edition received 724 entries from fifteen countries in West Africa, whereby entries were thoroughly reviewed by a five-member jury of the award and twenty-one finalists shortlisted from six countries.
Among the six Nigerians shortlisted for the award, is Adebajo, an investigative reporter and fact-checker for the International Centre for Investigative Reporter (ICIR), whose entry report centred on various government ministries with valid official electronic mail addresses that do not function.
The report specifically showed how enquiries sent to twenty-six official email addresses belonging to the federal ministries including the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF) was not responded to.
In his report, only four of the federal ministries responded, after a reminder was sent following a week of no response from the email addresses made available on their official website.
Adebajo’s investigation shows that out of the twenty-six addresses mailed, eleven were not available and of the fifteen which were valid, only three responded.
The four ministeries that responded included; The ministry of Finance; The ministry of Power, Works and Housing; The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Other Nigerians who also emerged finalist for the awards include; Odinaka Anudu─ Business Day; Aneta Chineye─ TV360; Cletus Ukpong─ Premium Times; Tobore Ovuorie─ Nations Newspaper and Tunde Ajaja─ Punch Newspaper.
The award recipients also feature; Eight awardees from Ghana, four from Burkina Faso and one from Senegal, Cote D’ Ivoire and Liberia respectively.
The Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Sulemana Braimah, said the award was aimed at showcasing and honouring journalism excellence, an objective according to him aimed at improving quality and independent journalism in West Africa.
The West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards is an annual initiative of the MFWA to promote media excellence in the sub-region.
Similarly, another ICIR reporter, Amos Abba has made the finalist roll call for the 2019 Kurt Schrock award for the international journalist.
The award recognises journalists for their brave and courageous reporting on conflict, corruption and injustice.