•Wins awards in education, environment reporting
From Seye Ojo and Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Once again, The Sun Newspapers shone brightly at the just-concluded Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) Lagos 2024.
Two of its editorial staff , Magnus Eze and Oluseye Ojo, won awards at the prestigious event held on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Shell Banquet Hall Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Eze, Assistant Editor, emerged as the Education Reporter of the Year 2023, clinching the Ibrahim Shekarau Prize for Best Education Report.
Eze earned the recognition for his special report titled, ‘Ebonyi: Pupils without teachers,’published in the Daily Sun on November 24, 2023.
The in-depth investigation highlighted the dire state of basic education in Ebonyi State, where pupils endure poor learning conditions in dilapidated classrooms, often sitting on bare floors.
The report exposed the near-total absence of basic sanitation facilities such as toilets and potable water, compounding the challenges faced by these students. It also revealed a troubling imbalance in staffing across schools in the state, with some institutions struggling without teachers while others suffered from over-staffing. Overcrowded classrooms were another recurring issue in some communities, further undermining the quality of education.
The findings were initially brought to light by a USAID-sponsored survey conducted by Technology for Transformative Development Foundation (TTD), a non-governmental organisation committed to advancing basic education.
TTD’s Executive Director, Ewah Otu Eleri, described the situation in some schools as “akin to poultry farms,” underscoring the severity of the conditions.
Building on TTD’s study, Eze and his team at The Sun dedicated over six months to verifying and expanding on the report. Their painstaking investigation took them across rural parts of Ebonyi State, engaging with stakeholders and witnessing the harsh realities firsthand.
Reflecting on his achievement, a delighted Eze expressed gratitude to God and acknowledged the critical role of his colleagues, particularly the Editor, Daily Sun, Mr Iheanacho Nwosu, and Associate Editor, Lifeline and Investigation, Mr Henry Umahi.
“This recognition wouldn’t have been possible without their tireless support and contributions,” he said.
Ojo emerged winner in the Environment Category with his story, entitled: ‘Perilous Waters’, which exposed the contamination of the Osun-Osogbo Groove as a result of activities of gold miners, and the danger it posses to public health especially those that draw water from the grove for drinking to solve spiritual problems.
The story, published in the Saturday Sun of July 15 2023, was entitled, ‘Perilous waters.’
• Illegal gold miners pollute Osun Osogbo, Oyo, Ogun rivers with deadly chemicals, spreading fears of epidemic •Contamination threatens UNESCO site, poses health hazards to Osun Osogbo devotees, millions of others.
Ojo beat Egole Anozie John Mark and Janet Ogundepo, both of The Punch, to emerge winner of Notore Chemical Prize for Environment Reporter of the Year 2023.