Radio Nigeria Correspondent Mary Fatile Wins Investigative Reporter of the year Award

Fourteen Journalists, including Correspondent Mary Fatile, of Radio Nigeria, Lagos Operations have been honoured at the sixteenth edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Journalism.

The annual event organised by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism,WSCIJ, alongside its civil society partners is put together to call the attention of the government to the need to urgently address issues relating to the public.

In a remark, Board Chair, WSCIJ, Professor Ropo Sekoni said recurring incidences of Gender- based violence and insecurity had made it necessary for the media to honour individuals who have been paying their part at ensuring a civic and democratic environment.

“We began the year with attention to journalist and the media as a whole to improve access to information, help marginalised youths and commodities that have been underserved*

Chairperson for the panel of Judges of the Awards, Mrs. Ayo Obe, in an address, noted that the selected entries were excellent works of Investigative reports of corruption and welfare issues, which directly affect the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians.

“We have three awards each in each categories of print, Radio, television, photography and content. With two hundred and twenty entries, it is clear that not all entries can win, but they are deeply enriching”

Radio Nigeria’s Correspondent Mary Fatile, who won the Radio category of Investigative Report of the year Award expressed appreciation to Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for giving her the platform to make impact in the society,

” I really want to thank God Almighty, and Radio Nigeria for giving me the platform to impact the society, and also my Bosses, the Director News, as well as Deputy Director News, Mr. Shaka Braimah for always encouraging me. My advice to my colleagues is to always investigate matters and not be concerned much about monetary gratification”.

Mr. Olakunle Akinrinade of The Nation Newspaper was awarded the overall Nigerian Investigative Reporter of the Year, while Veteran cartoonist and painter,
Mr. Josiah Ajiboye, was also honoured with the Lifetime Award of Journalistic Excellence for his consistent professional exertions in form of cartoons which spoke to social-economic and political issues that bordered on social justice.

The event is held annually on ninth December , the World Anti-Corruption Day and eve of the Human Rights Day, to acknowledge best practices in investigative journalism and call attention to its significance for attaining good governance, accountability, and social justice.