The Editor of The Statesman Newspaper, Mr Chris Anucha, has emerged winner of the Governor Hope Uzodimma Media Excellence Award, as the Best Investigative Journalist of the Year.
This was announced by the Chairman of the Committee on “the second edition of Governor Hope Uzodimma Media Excellence Award, Chief (Dr) Fidel Onyeneke, while submitting their report to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba.
Others who emerged winners from the contest include: Reginald Mbajunwa of Imo Broadcasting Cooperation (IBC) Owerri, who won the Best Documentary Television Journalist of the Year; Faith Igwilo of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), as the Most Outstanding State Correspondent; Ngozi Ejimadu of IBC, as the Best Documentary Radio Journalist; Adaeze Opara Anyanwu of Ozisa FM, as the Most Outstanding Igbo Radio Presenter; Mary Omeni Nwode of My Radio FM, as the Most Outstanding English Presenter; Akunna Azuike of IBC, as the Most Outstanding TV Presenter; Chigozie Emerenini of IBC Owerri, as the Most Creative Camera TV; and Cosmas Chukwuemeka of Darling FM as, the Best Sports Reporter.
According to Chief Onyeneke, the winners emerged based on professionalism and what they saw on ground, as no government official in any way tried to influence members of the committee.
“We never had anyone telling us to show particular interest to this or that person, we were given a free hand,” Onyeneke stated. He thanked the Governor Uzodimma and Commissioner Emelumba for giving the committee free hand to discharge its duty professionally.
Receiving the report, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba, commended the Committee for doing a good job, noting that the criteria used in the assessment and grading of the winners are verifiable.
He observed that a situation, whereby every member of the committee scored all the entries and an average was taken at the end to arrive at the winners is a rigorous process, pointing out that the competition is Governor Uzodimma’s one way of appreciating journalists and the journalism profession.
He reiterated Uzodimma’s determination in promoting media excellence.
That was not the first time Mr Anucha was winning an award in the course of his journalism career. As the South-South Bureau Chief of The Sun Newspaper, the South-South Bureau under his leadership won the Most Improved Bureau of the Year, 2012.
Within one year of his assuming duty as the Editor of Statesman, the newspaper received an award from the Imo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as the Most Tourism-friendly Media.
Anucha was appointed Editor, The Statesman on March 1, 2021.