Celebrated Ghanaian investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has instituted a ten-year Annual Prize for Best Graduating students in Investigative Journalism in two Nigerian Universities.
Anas announced that the best-graduating students from the North-Eastern University (NEU), Gombe, and the Federal University, Kashere (FUK) will receive the sum of $300 each for 10 consecutive years.
He disclosed this during a one-day International Conference on Trends in Investigative Journalism in Northern Nigeria, jointly organized by WikkiTimes, NEU, and the Tiger Eye Foundation Ghana.
According to him, every year his foundation, Tiger Eye Foundation Ghana, will reward the best investigative journalism students from the two institutions, saying that such courageous reporting requires funding and support for the journalists.
Anas, whose groundbreaking investigative work has earned him global acclaim, stated that the initiative aims to motivate students to excel in their academic pursuits and inspire a new generation of fearless journalists.
He emphasized that investigative journalism requires significant funding and support to thrive, particularly in regions like Northern Nigeria, where the profession faces numerous challenges.
“The essence of investigative journalism is to bring hope to the common man,” Anas said during his keynote address. “It is about holding power accountable and making life better for the people. However, this job is demanding and is only for those who are passionate about driving change in society.”
He counselled aspiring journalists about the sacrifices required in the field, stating, “If you are not ready to pay the price, forget about investigative journalism. You must endure the pain and trauma that come with it.”
Speaking earlier, WikkiTimes Co-publisher Ajibola Amzat revealed that since its debut in 2018, WikkiTimes has faced significant challenges, including seven lawsuits, yet remains steadfast in its commitment to exposing corruption and holding power to account.
“We founded WikkiTimes to bring about change in Northern Nigeria,” Amzat said. “Despite the legal battles and threats, we continue to hold power accountable. I call on stakeholders and the academic community to support our efforts to ensure transparency and good governance.”
Renowned media scholar Professor Umaru Pate, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere echoed that the pervasive nature of corruption in Nigeria is detrimental to the country’s progress.
He cited examples of corruption in various sectors, including education, agriculture, politics, and environmental exploitation, and called for a collective effort to address these issues.
“Corruption is a multifaceted problem that demeans our progress as a nation,” Pate said. “We must retrace our steps and change the way we operate if we are to overcome these challenges.”
In his contribution, Dr. Hamid Adamu Mohammed, Dean of the School of Communication Management and Social Sciences at the NEU, emphasised the importance of investigative journalism in addressing the myriad challenges facing Northern Nigeria.
“The North is grappling with numerous issues that require painstaking investigative reports to uncover,” Dr. Hamid said. “Most investigations focus on government corruption, but there are other critical areas, such as the activities of clerics and traditional institutions, that remain underreported.”
Dr. Hamid also advocated for the use of local languages in investigative reporting to enhance audience engagement and ensure that stories resonate with the people.
Victoria Bamas, Editor of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), emphasized the need for gender mainstreaming in newsrooms.
She noted that women’s issues are often underreported and called for greater representation of women in journalism to ensure balanced and inclusive reporting.
“Women’s voices are often marginalized in our societies,” Bamas said. “We need to amplify these voices and strive for gender balance in newsrooms to ensure that all perspectives are represented.”
