The founder of GuardPost Nigeria, an Abuja-based online newspaper, Mr. Ibanga Isine, says award in his honour would spur colleagues to aspire to embrace quality Journalism that adds value to the society.
Mr. Utibe Ukim, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of XL Communication Limited, had last week in an interview with this newspaper, announced the institution of Ibanga Isine Prize for Impact Reporting yearly award worth N500,000 for journalists in Akwa Ibom State.
Reacting to the award in an interview with Straightnews on Saturday, Isine who is also the managing editor of GuardPost newspaper the said ‘‘The award will spur our colleagues to aspire to embrace quality journalism that adds value to society, challenges wrongdoings and hold power accountable to the people.
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‘‘These values have always fired my passion and defined the boundaries of my practice.’’
The excited journalist remarked, ‘‘I am very humbled by the gesture not only because Mr. Ukim has found my work good enough to serve as a benchmark to others but also for deploying huge resources to reward our colleagues who would aspire to do great journalism.
‘‘It is a great honour to me, my family, the organisations and persons who have shaped my career and the journalism profession in general.’’
The CNN award winner noted ‘‘Like I have always said, the sky cannot look beautiful with a single star. But with a constellation of stars, it sparkles and turns eyes and attention.’’
He observed ‘‘I dare say that the success of XL FM founded by Mr. Ukim is as a result of his deep knowledge of journalism that impacts society and I am convinced that the organisation will go places in no distant time.
‘‘This is not only to thank the MD/CEO of Excel Communications Limited for instituting the award in my honour but to also dedicate the initiative to every journalist working hard to help protect and preserve our communities.
‘‘May journalism win for all us now and always,’’ Isine added.
Isine’s profile
A former senior editor with PREMIUM TIMES newspaper, Isine holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Arts and a Master of Arts Degree in Mass Communication, respectively, from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
A proud son of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Isine also holds certificates from the Pan African University, Lagos and Thompson Foundation, in the UK, in Business and Economic Reporting and Advanced Reporting, respectively.
With extensive experience in print, broadcast and multimedia journalism, Mr. Isine has a keen instinct for investigations and special reports. He has worked for the Nigerian Television Authority, Channel 12, Uyo, and Punch Newspapers moving from correspondent to chief correspondent and bureau chief.
He took on a government role as special assistant, media and administration to the Hon. Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development but returned to Leadership Newspapers in 2012, where he was appointed Group Editor Investigations and later served as pioneer editor to the new weekly ‘Government.’
He moved to Guard Post as editor in 2013. In June 2017, Mr. Isine and the former Secretary-General, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Victoria Ibanga, started The NEXT EDITION newspaper, but he had resigned from the newspaper.
