A journalist and researcher with Rockcity 101.9 F.M, Dr. Jamiu Folarin, has been shortlisted alongside 14 others across West Africa for the maiden edition of the Excellence in Journalism Awards.
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on its website announced the shortlist of the 15 outstanding journalists nominated for its inaugural Excellence in Journalism Awards.
The 15 journalists who made the list, authors of 13 reports, were selected from a pool of 388 entries received from seven countries across West Africa.
The award winners will be unveiled at CJID’s 10th-anniversary dinner and awards ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in Abuja.
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The award ceremony is part of the CJID’s Media and Development Conference (MDC) 2024 that started on Monday 25th November 2024.
The conference brings together media professionals, innovators, and thought leaders to discuss the transformative role of media and technology in advancing democracy and development in Africa.
The finalists include: Kunle Adebajo of Humangle (Nigeria), Bettina Nwelih of News Central (Nigeria), Kwetey Nartey of Joy News (Ghana), Jemilat Nasiru of The Cable (Nigeria) and Yero Bah of Nigeria Health Watch (The Gambia/Nigeria) and Olayide Soaga of Prime Progress (Nigeria).
Others are: Manasseh-Azure-Awuni, Adwoa Adobea Owusu and Evans Aziamor-Mensah of The Fourth Estate (Ghana), Manasseh Mbachii of Premium Times (Nigeria), Juliet Buna of African Women in Media (Nigeria), Godwin Asediba of Media General (Ghana), Kabir Yusuf of Premium Times (Nigeria), and Prosper Ishaya of Social Voices (Nigeria).
CJID made the announcement in Abuja following the release of the nominees’ list by the Chairperson of the panel of judges, Ajibola Amzat, Editor, Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism.
Other members of the panel, comprising distinguished professionals across Africa and beyond, includes Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News, TVC, Adeolu Adekola, Project Manager, Centre for Investigative Journalism, London and Kent Mensah , the Chief Ghana Correspondent, The Africa Report.
The award, launched in 2024, reflects CJID’s commitment to supporting and celebrating excellent journalism that addresses critical issues across Africa. It recognizes journalists whose impactful work fosters accountability, transparency, and development.
The categories are Best Fact-check in West Africa, Best Health Reporting in West Africa, Best Climate Change Reporting in West Africa, Best Solutions Journalism in West Africa, Best Community Reporting in West Africa, Best Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Best Campus Journalist and Best Reporting on Social Accountability.
According to a CJID statement issued by Kemi Busari, the panel of judges is chaired by Ajibola Amzat, the Editor, Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ).
Other members of the panel, comprising distinguished professionals across Africa and beyond, are Stella Din-Jacob; Director of News, TVC, Adeolu Adekola; Project Manager, Centre for Investigative Journalism, London; and Kent Mensah, the Chief Ghana Correspondent, The Africa Report.
“We are excited to recognize the exceptional contributions of these journalists to the African media landscape. Their work embodies the principles of integrity, innovation, and impact that CJID seeks to promote,” Amzat, the judges’ chair said.
“CJID congratulates all shortlisted nominees for their dedication to telling important African stories and looks forward to celebrating their achievements later this month.”
*Investigative Report* nominated
The report on the multi-million naira fraud involving funds for the Federal Government’s flood control projects in Ogun State exposes the mismanagement and diversion of public funds meant for crucial flood mitigation efforts.
The investigative report revealed gaps in accountability and transparency among government officials and contractors. The report brought irregularities to light, and the need for stricter oversight, effective monitoring mechanisms, and enforcement of anti-corruption policies within public projects.
The report has increased public awareness by educating thousands of listeners about how to monitor government projects and hold officials accountable. It has fostered a culture of advocacy for transparency and accountability among the beneficiaries and Rockcity FM listeners.
The investigation also empowered citizens to use tools like the GovSpend portal to track government spending and demand accountability.
*About Jamiu Folarin*
Dr. Jamiu Folarin describes himself as a “journalist by calling and researcher by choice with investigation as the umbilical cord.” Currently a broadcaster at Rockcity 101.9 FM, he has earned recognition for his impactful investigative reports. As a Ph.D. holder in Mass Communication, Dr. Folarin lectures at the Mass Communication Department of Crescent University.
He has to his credit awards among which are: Radio Reporter of the Year, 2nd Runners up (2014), Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
Dr. Folarin was a 2020 Dubawa Research Fact-checking Fellow. He was one of the pioneer African fellows of the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN)
He was 2023 BudgIT GovSpend Media Fellow. The fellowship focuses on identifying spending from the gov spend platform, investigating it, and establishing value for money or corruption cases that may have occurred during the procurement process.
His remarkable achievements during the Fellowships got him scholarship to attend the Solutions Journalism Summit in Uta, United States in May, 2022, as well as the Global Fact Conference in Oslo, Norway (June, 2022) organized by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) in partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University.
