Nigerian Breweries rewards media excellence at 8th Golden Pen award

L-R: Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekeremadu; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Nicolaas Velverde; the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year, Tobi Aworinde, and Chairman Panel of Judges, NB Golden Pen Award, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, at the Award night in Lagos on Friday.

Nigerian Breweries Plc rewarded media excellence and outstanding journalism practice at the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award which took place in Lagos last weekend.

The award which is the 8^th in the series is aimed at promoting professionalism and objective reportage of events in Nigeria. It is also meant to reward such journalists who abide by the fine ethics of the journalism profession.

The event attracted dignitaries from the nation’s media, political and social circles including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, among others, who came to celebrate journalists that submitted outstanding reports on Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development in 2015.

The night of glitz and glamour saw Tobi Aworinde of The Punch Newspaper emerge as the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year. The first runner-up was Gbenga Salau of The Guardian Newspaper, while Charles Abah, also of The Punch emerged as the second runner-up.

The Photo Journalist of the Year award went to Sodiq Adelakun of The Punch Newspaper.  Odutayo Odusanya also of The Punch emerged as the first runner-up, while Ayodele Ojo of The Sun Newspaper was the second runner-up. Gabriel Dike, an education reporter with The Sun Newspaper won the ‘NB Report of the Year’.

All the winning journalists also got cash prizes and high-end mobile devices as part of the reward package.

While welcoming guests at the event, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde disclosed that the award was launched eight years ago to promote professionalism and objectivity of media reports. He explained that the choice of Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development as the focus of this year’s edition, like in the last two years, is hinged on the fact that no country can lay claim to development and prosperity without adequate attention to the education and empowerment of the youth.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was present at the event, praised Nigerian Breweries for sustaining the award over eight years and saluted the courage of journalists for their contribution to the nation’s development. He appealed to the media to continue to be the watchdog and gatekeeper of the nation’s democracy.

John Momoh, Chairman/CEO, Channels Television, guest speaker at the event, called for soul-searching by the media and extolled them to bridge the gap between training and practice.

Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Managing Director of Tanus Communications and Chairman of the Panel of Judges commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative and enjoined journalists to aspire to the highest standards.

Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, disclosed that a total of 267 entries were received when submission closed for the award.

He explained that the award criteria of quality, professionalism and objectivity remain the filters upon which entries were shortlisted for the award, as decided by the independent judging panel.