Professor Chinyere Okunna and the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti will be honored at the 2024 Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) on December 9 at the MUSON Centre in Lagos. Okunna, a trailblazer in Nigerian media and academia, will receive the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence, while Ransome-Kuti will be posthumously recognized with the Human Rights Defender Award for his pivotal role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy and human rights movements.
The 19th edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) is set to take place on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the AGIP Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, where two prominent figures, Professor Chinyere Okunna and the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, will be honored for their remarkable contributions to media and human rights advocacy.
Professor Okunna, Nigeria’s first female Professor of Mass Communication, will receive the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence. The award recognized her tireless efforts in the development of Nigerian media, her advocacy for women’s empowerment, and her significant academic contributions. Okunna, who currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Paul University in Awka, is celebrated for her role in mentoring generations of journalists and advancing media practices in the country.
In a poignant tribute, the Human Rights Defender Award will be presented posthumously to Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, a renowned activist, physician, and pro-democracy leader. Ransome-Kuti, who passed away in 2006, is remembered for his relentless defense of civil rights and his role in founding key organizations such as the Campaign for Democracy and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights. His activism, which spanned the medical field and human rights, left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.
The award ceremony will conclude the 2024 Amplify In-depth Media (AIM) Conference and Awards, a two-day virtual event held on December 8 and 9. This year’s theme, “Media Credibility, Investigative Reporting, and Artificial Intelligence,” will explore the intersection of journalism and technology in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. The conference will feature a keynote address by Tolu Ogunlesi, Managing Partner at WoweMedia and former Special Assistant to Nigeria’s ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital/New Media, along with a panel of esteemed speakers.
Since its inception in 2005, the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting has recognized outstanding journalists and human rights defenders, focusing on the importance of investigative reporting in the fight against corruption and the promotion of democracy. This year’s awards will celebrate 15 finalists selected from 219 entries, with winners receiving cash prizes, plaques, and an international study tour in 2025.
The ceremony and the AIM conference serve as key moments in Nigeria’s media calendar, shedding light on the vital role of journalism in fostering transparency and accountability in governance. The public is invited to attend and participate in these important events, which are supported by the Netherlands Embassy in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
