Journalists win awards for promoting the use of the FOI Act

By Omalicha Media

Foremost media advocacy group, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), has announced winners in the maiden edition of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards. They are Ms. Blessing Oladunjoye, a journalist and publisher of BONews Service, who was honoured for “having made the highest number of information requests, and Mr. Remmy Nweke, Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media Group, honoured for his most outstanding contributions in promoting the FOI Act by raising awareness among citizens, government officials and the media about the Act, and advocating for its effective implementation w.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Edetaen Ojo, MRA’s Executive Director, commended the two journalists for their entries and participation in the Awards programme.

He noted that many journalists and media organizations across the country are using the FOI Act for investigative and accountability journalism by requesting official records and other information, monitoring public spending, exposing corruption, verifying government claims, and producing evidence-based reporting, despite continuing challenges of secrecy, non-compliance, and weak transparency systems among many public institutions.

Mr. Ojo said although many of such journalists did not submit entries for the Awards, he would encourage them and their media organizations to continue utilizing the Act to advance accountability, expose corruption, and promote good governance.

 The Statement, which was signed by Idowu Adewale, MRA’s Communications Officer, the executive director stressed that journalists play a critical role in ensuring that citizens are informed about government activities, public expenditure, policies and their implementation, as well as other issues touching upon the security and welfare of citizens, which the Constitution has designated in Section 14 as the primary purpose of Government.

He described the FOI Act as “a most potent weapon in a journalist’s arsenal”, which will only be effective if it is constantly wielded.  

The Awards were instituted in honour of former President Goodluck Jonathan in recognition of his courageous act of assenting to the Act on May 28, 2011. By giving his assent, his Administration established a legal framework guaranteeing the public’s right to access information held by public institutions in Nigeria.

Mr. Ojo iterated  MRA’s commitment to promoting the effective implementation of the Act and supporting initiatives that strengthen investigative journalism, media freedom, transparency, and democratic accountability in Nigeria.

The award winning journalists would be formally honoured at a ceremony to be held later, at which each of them will receive a plaque, a certificate, and a prize.