TheCable

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) will hold the 2014 edition of its annual award programme on Tuesday, December 9, the International Day for Anti-corruption and the eve of the World Human Rights Day.

The event is scheduled to hold at the main hall of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), adjacent Afrika shrine, Agidingbi, Ikeja Lagos, beginning from 5pm.

Apart from the regular award categories, this year would see the WSCIJ partner with the Netherlands embassy give an award to the best work highlighting the plight of girls and women in the Report Women category, as well as present the VinMartin Ilo grant for the best work in the broadcast category.

Honorary award recipients, merit award winners, runners-up and commended works will be unveiled at the public award presentation ceremony, which will mark the ninth edition of the award programme.

First held in October 2005, the award is aimed at encouraging the development of an investigative tradition in the Nigerian media through rigorous scrutiny of human rights violations, regulatory failures and corruption in the public and corporate sectors of the nation’s life.

It has so far rewarded 65 finalists out of which there are 36 ‘Soyinka Laureates’ and 29 runners-up, honouring four investigative journalists of the year and 12 honorary award recipients.

Members of the public are also expected to attend the event, which is usually graced by leaders of the media industry, government, private sector, diplomatic corps, civil society and students of journalism among others.

The award is named after Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka in recognition of his life-long work in support of the freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinion, and freedom to impart them without fear or favour and without hindrance or interference.