Student Journalists Win Cash Prizes at 2019 Annual ICIR Awards

The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) Award is an initiative for fostering the growth of investigative reporting in Nigeria. At the maiden edition of the annual award, three student journalists emerged winners and won cash prizes.

Ibrahim Adeyemi from Usman Dan Fodio Uinversity came first, Alfred Olufemi from the Obafemi Awolowo University came second and Solomon Oladipupo from the University of Lagos came third at the award presentation which held at Bello Dome, University of Ibadan. Respectively, the cash prize awarded was N120,000, N80,000 and 50,000.
Student journalists of honourable mention were Adejumo Kabir and Abiodun Jamiu who took the fourth and fifth position respectively.

Kunle Adebajo, an investigative reporter, represented the ICIR at the award presentation. He said the ICIR has a keen interest in developing skills for journalists as early as possible which had prompted the introduction of the competition.
Moreover, he noted that only one entry was shortlisted for the Union of Campus Journalists’ award for best investigative report. This he termed a poor culture of investigative journalism in the University of Ibadan, his alma mater.

Martins Isaac, the President of UCJ UI, commended the Executive director of the ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan for introducing the ICIR annual award. He congratulated all participants of the competition mentioning that investigative reporting demands the commitment of time and resources.