“I dedicate the award to every person who is working hard to make the society a better place,” Premium Times assistant editor who won this year’s best Investigative Story/Akwa Ibom Journalist of the year award said.
“I also dedicate the award to every teacher who is working assiduously to improve the standard of education in the country,’’ Cletus Ukpong, who is in-charge of South South region of the online newspaper, declared after being conferred with the award at the 2018 Media excellence award/luncheon of Nigeria Union Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council held Friday at the prestigious Ibom Hall, Uyo.
“For me, I must give it to Akwa Ibom government for doing something about education. It may not necessarily be on my report, but probably it has helped in highlighting the challenges in the education sector. I give it to them at least I have seen a couple of schools being renovated,” Ukpong, a Mass Communcations graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka told Straightnews reporter in an interview.
Devoted to improved journalism practice, he stated “To a core journalist, the excitement is not about winning the award but when your story is able to create an impact. An impact comes if you are writing about poor state of education and the government steps up the games. This is when excitement comes. But if you write and nothing is happening, then the excitement does not come. My excitement will come when Government Technical College, Ikot Ada Idem is renovated and the school resumes.”
Under Chairman’s commendation award category: Itoro Bassey- Legislative Affaris; Bassey Ibiatisuho-Sports development; Kufre Etuk-Political development; Ekemini Simon- Features Writing and Nature Substance- Best columnist won.
In the professional awards’ category, these journalists: Nsikak Ikrok- best sports reporter; Mfon Patrick, information manager; Harrison Essien- best Judiciary reporter; Ekemini Simon- best Health/Population Reporting; Samuel Williamson-Best Radio presenter; Abasifioik Inyang- Community Reporting won while The Mail emerged as the Best Newspaper of the Year.
