Ikechukwu Amaechi, Odinkalu, runners up
Award-winning journalist and Editor of Saturday Tribune, Lasisi Olagunju has won the 2023 DAME Informed Commentary Prize.
At the 32nd edition of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) which took place Sunday in the Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Olagunju, who maintains a Monday column —Monday Lines — in The Nigerian Tribune beat three others, Ikechukwu Amaechi and Chidi Odinkalu to emerge first.
Ikechukwu Amaechi, journalist and publisher of The Niche Newspaper and Law teacher, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu whose articles are widely published emerged runners-up under The Vanguard Newspapers.
However, the Newspaper for the third consecutive year clinched of The Year’s honour.
The organisers in a tribute said of The Nation: “Established on July 31, 2006, The Nation continues to grow in stature and influence.”
Editor of the newspaper Adeniyi Adesina, also won in the category of Editor of the Year. It was also for the third time.
The Nation also won the Editorial Writing prize with the entry: “Stop the bleeding,” published on October 20, 2022. The Punch was the runner-up in the category.
Editorial Board Chairman Sam Omatseye received the plaques for Editorial Writing and Newspaper of the Year of behalf of the organisation.
The Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, described the awards as rewards for high performance.
Explaining how The Nation won the top prize, the organisers said: “In emerging as the Newspaper of the Year for the third successive year, The Nation recorded 27 points, made up of six first place positions, three second place positions, and three third-place positions. This amounts to six gold medals, two silver, and three bronze.
“The gold medals are in Child friendly Reporting, Editorial Writing, Education Reporting, Lagos Reporting, Sports Reporting, and News Photography.
“The silver medals are in Education Reporting, Health Reporting and Nutrition Reporting.
“The bronze medals are in Insurance Reporting, Judicial Reporting and Niger Delta Reporting.
“It is the fourth time in eight years that The Nation is winning this category.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, The Nation, the Newspaper of the Year.”
The Nation beat The Punch and Premium Times to clinch the biggest prize of the night.
Adesina, who won Editor of the Year, beat Dayo Oketola of The Punch and Idris Akinbajo of Premium Times.
The Nation’s Frank Ikpefan won the Education Reporter of the Year prize.
Ikpefan’s colleague, Grace Obike, was a runner-up in the category. Deborah Kolawole of The Punch was the other nominee.
Ikpefan also won the Child-Friendly Reporter of the Year, beating Temitope Omogbolagun of The Punch and Ojoma Akor of Daily Trust.
The Nation Taiwo Alimi was named Sports Reporter of the Year. He beat Peter Akinbo and Gift Habib, both of The Punch.
Alimi was a runner-up in the Health Reporting category, won by Alfred Ajayi of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), with Ojomo Akor as the third nominee.
The Lagos Reporting prize went to The Nation Associate Editor, Adekunle Yusuf, who beat Gbenga Salau of The Guardian and Ayoola Olasupo of The Punch.
Head of The Nation photography unit, Isaac Jimoh Ayodele, won the News Photographer of the Year, ahead of Akeem Salau of Vanguard and Ayuba Raji of Blueprint newspapers.
The Nation reporters were runners-up in other categories.
Assistant Business Editor Collins Nweze was the second runner-up in the Insurance Reporting category, which was won by Ronald Adamolekun of Premium Times. Nike Popoola of The Punch was the first runner-up.
The Nation’s Southsouth Regional Manager Shola O’Neil was the second runner-up in the Niger Delta Reporting category, won by Yekeen Akinwale of The Cable. Soni Daniel of
Vanguard was the first runner-up.
Former Health Correspondent, Moses Emorinken, was the first runner-up in the Nutrition Reporting category with a story published by this newspaper last year. Adesola Ikulajolu of Ripples Nigeria was the winner, with Adamolekun the second runner-up.
Kemi Busari of Premium Times won the Investigative Reporter of the Year with a story on deadly herbal medicine. Tunde Ajala of The Punch and Ibrahim Adeyemi of Premium Times were runners-up.
Other winners are The Guardian (Best Designed Media Website ahead of The Punch and BusinessDay), The Sun (Best Designed Newspaper ahead of Daily Trust and Thisday), and Damola Olufemi of The Punch (Judicial Reporting).
Thisday publisher Nduka Obaigbena bagged the Lifetime Achievement award.
Former The Guardian Managing Director Emeka Izeze and former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, Mike Awoyinfa, were named DAME Honorary Fellows,
a tier lower than the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Two television journalists, Esther Omopariola and Olayiwola Awakan, both of Television Continental (TVC), were recognised for their entries in DAME Television Documentary category.
