Yemisi Izuora
The Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Freedom Awards 2018 has kicked off with an appeal by the Union for stakeholders to nominate individuals and corporate bodies for recognition.
The event is being organised to motivate journalists, promote press freedom, good governance and democracy in Nigeria through recognising courageous journalists who have risked their lives by reporting on critical news events.
The Union said: “Many journalists have faced threats, harassment, physical injury, imprisonment and death in the course of their assignments. They need to be recognised and celebrated.”
The awards are in four categories and will be given to:
1. Journalists: reporters, publishers, editors, photo journalists, cartoonists, in newspaper houses, TV and radio stations, online and social media who have faced harassment, threat, physical injury, imprisonment, death or shown extraordinary courage in their line of duties will be given Defender of Freedom Awards.
2. Seasoned media practitioners and media owners who have shown extraordinary resilience and brilliance, and/or have provided media platforms for journalists to practice their craft and had supported press freedom would be given Life Time Achievement Awards.
3. Political and public office holders who are considered most media friendly and have actively supported press freedom. They will be given Distinguished Friend of the Press Awards.
4. Corporations (private or public) who are adjudged media friendly and have supported press freedom will be given Corporate Friend of the Media Awards.
The awards night and dinner will hold on May 3, 2018 at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja at 5pm.
It will be part of NUJ’s celebration of the International Press Freedom Day 2018.
A distinguished Guest Speaker, Senator Shehu Sani, will deliver the awards lecture on: “Press Freedom, Democracy and Nation Building in Nigeria.”
It will be a gathering of crème de la crème of Nigeria’s media icons, policy makers, technocrats, captains of industry, diplomatic corps, civil society and multilateral agencies