Five Nigerian Journalists Shortlisted for 2020 Fetisov Journalism Awards
Five Nigerian journalists have been shortlisted for the 2020 Fetisov Journalism Awards for different categories. Philip Obaji, Fisayo Soyombo, Olatunji Ololade, Kelechukwu Iruoma and Ruth Olurounbi were announced on the 1st of November 2020 and were shortlisted from a total of 21 countries across the globe.
The Nigerian journalists are part of the 35 shortlisted candidates across four prestigious journalism categories which are – Outstanding Contribution to Peace, Contribution to Civil Rights, Outstanding Investigative Reporting and Excellence in Environmental Journalism. The award ceremony is scheduled for February 10, 2021.
According to the organization, three winners will be selected from each category and will be awarded a cash prize of CHF100,000 (US$104,005) for first place, CHF20,000 (US$20,801) for second place and CHF10,000 (US$10,400) for the third-place winner, which is the biggest prize in the history of international journalism.
Fisayo Soyombo, who was a former editor at The Cable was nominated for his remarkable investigative reporting on Undercover Investigation on Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System, a three-part series where he explicitly stated the shortcomings of the system.
Kelechukwu Iruoma and Ruth Olurounbi on the other hand who had their investigative reports published on The Cable about oil spill pollution in the Niger Delta were shortlisted under the Excellence in Environmental Journalism category. The six-month investigation revealed how air, water and soil pollutants resulting from the oil spills in Nigeria Ogoniland affect the health and conditions of the inhabitants. The investigation also highlights how the cleanup exercise is slow, thereby endangering more lives and putting them as risks of death.
Sahara Reporter’s Philip Obaji was listed in the Outstanding Contribution to Peace category for his work, The Child Refugee ‘Sold’ Through Facebook, while Olatunji Ololade of The Nation clinches the Outstanding Investigative Reporting category for his work, 21st Century Slaves.
The Fetisov Journalism Awards aims to promote universal human values such as honesty, justice, courage, and nobility by sighting outstanding journalists across the globe for their dedication, commitment, contributions and service towards changing and impacting the world.