The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has announced the opening of entries for the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards 2026, aimed at honouring journalists who have excelled in promoting transparency and accountability through the effective use of the FoI Act, 2011.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, MRA said the annual awards are named after former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who signed the FOI Act into law on May 28, 2011. The 2026 edition, it said, will celebrate journalists who have actively used the law to demand accountability and raise public awareness about citizens’ right to access information.
The awards will feature two categories — Most Active User of the FOI Act and Most Outstanding Promoter of the FOI Act.
The first category will recognize a journalist who has made the highest verifiable number of information requests under the Act between May 28, 2011, and December 31, 2025.
The second category will honour a journalist who has made significant contributions to promoting awareness and understanding of the FOI Act through consistent reporting, advocacy, and public education.
MRA encouraged all eligible Nigerian journalists working in print, broadcast, online, and multimedia platforms to submit entries, provided they are not under legal restraint or found guilty of professional misconduct by any regulatory body.
According to the organization, applicants must complete an official application form and provide verifiable documentation such as acknowledged copies of FOI requests or published works that demonstrate their contributions.
The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on January 31, 2026, while winners will be announced and honoured at a public ceremony in Abuja on May 28, 2026, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the FOI Act’s enactment.
Each winner, MRA said, will receive a plaque, certificate, and prize during the event.
For application forms and inquiries, interested journalists are to contact the organization via [email protected].
