
By Jude Atupulazi
The correspondent of The Nation Newspapers in Anambra State, Mr Emma Elekwa, has won the 2024 Edition of the prestigious Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Award for Ethical Journalism.
Elekwa was announced the winner of the prize at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Council Press Week/Man of the Year Award, following the submission of his article titled, “Erratic Power Supply Cripples Poultry Businesses in Anambra, Farmers Resort to Lanterns, Charcoal”.
Speaking before the award presentation, a member of the panel of judges, Mr Jude Atupulazi, said the occasion was an opportunity to celebrate media practitioners in the state who had distinguished themselves especially in the area of ethical journalism.
He also noted that the award was the only one recognized by NUJ in the state as it was purely based on the competence of the winner, different from some awards won by pleading with people to vote for the winners online.
Atupulazi who described the Prof Okunna Award as the crème de la crème of media awards in the state, also announced the reporter with Ikenga online, Lawrence Nwimo, as first runner-up, out of a total of ten entries.
He congratulated the awardees for their dedication and sacrifice, describing the selection process as fair and transparent.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, earlier, described NUJ as one of the reputable institutions in Nigeria, pleading with members to continue to partner with government for a better society.
‘NUJ is one of the reputable institutions in Nigeria, and I’m proud to be associated with it. I call on members to continue to partner with the government,’ he added.
The award benefactor who doubled as the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Stella Okunna, commended the NUJ leadership for improved edition of the annual ceremony, just as she appreciated dignitaries that graced the occasion.
Responding, the award winner, Elekwa, expressed appreciation to God for the wisdom, zeal, and passion bestowed on him to carry out his duty, just as he thanked the benefactor for institutionalizing the award, which, he noted, had continued to produce exceptional journalists.
Elekwa also appreciated his media outfit, The Nation, and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), for providing the platform that made the award a reality.
‘I must confess that the award came to me as a surprise. I reluctantly submitted the entry just a day before the deadline and forgot about it until today I was called up,’ he reflected.
While dedicating the award to God and his colleagues in the pen profession, Elekwa said the award would spur him for more robust, balanced and impactful reportage.
Other personalities bestowed with awards during the event included Dr Chinedu Umeadi, who received Man of theYear; the Traditional Ruler of Alor, Igwe MacAnthony Chinedu Elibe Okonkwo, who emerged the Philanthropist of the Decade; Oliver Okenna, who bagged the Most Innovative Entrepreneur of The Year, among others.