Anthony Akaeze, a Senior Assistant Editor with Tell magazine has emerged the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year. Anthony’s work, “The ivory towers of rot”, an investigative piece on the infrastructural, social and moral decay in Nigerian universities earned him the award as the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year, the One Million Naira cash prize, an iPhone 6 and a special statuette.
At the well-attended event held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Friday, October 30, 2015, the Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu, CFR, applauded the Nigerian media for supporting the initiatives and aspirations of Nigerian Breweries over the years. He said the award was instituted by the company to recognise and reward professionalism and other ethical values in journalism in Nigeria. “It is gratifying to note that we are not only here to reaffirm our age old partnership with the Nigerian media but to celebrate these gentlemen of the journalism profession”.
The Chairman of the Jury, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi said the entries for this year’s award were an improvement over the last years. He praised the efforts of Nigerian Breweries at sustaining the award and commended the Nigerian media for its unrelenting desire to set an agenda for the good of the Nigerian people.
Also speaking at the event, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia state hailed the Nigerian media as patriotic citizens, who despite the peculiar challenges of the country and their working condition, have done a lot to build the nation and market her potentials. Governor Ikpeazu commended Nigerian Breweries for initiating and sustaining the award, adding that it would promote professionalism, excellence and integrity in journalism.
Other winners at the award include Lawrence Njoku of The Guardian, who emerged the first runner up and Mojeed Alabi of New Telegraph, who won the second runner up in the Golden Pen Reporter of the Year Category. Canice Opara of BusinessWorld, emerged winner of the Nigeria Breweries Report of the Year with the story “Beer: Any Health Benefits to Consumers”. In the Golden Pen Photojournalist of the Year Category, Godwin Irekhe of New Telegraph won Best Photojournalist of the Year. Isaac Ayodele of The Nation was first runner-up and Stanley Ogidi of The Punch was the second runner up.
This Year’s Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award focused on Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development. The company said the choice of the themes was hinged on the fact that no country can lay claim to development and prosperity without giving adequate attention to the education and empowerment of its youth. The Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award was launched seven years ago to promote professionalism and objectivity of media reports in Nigeria.
