Brand Times Wins Rotary’s Humanitarian Reporting Awards

Brand Times, a leading brand, marketing, business, tech, and sustainability news platform, has clinched the 2023-2024 Humanitarian Reporting Awards organised by Rotary International District 9110 for its excellent reportage of humanitarian stories contributing to making the world a better place. It emerged winner of the category “Best online newspaper in the reportage of clubs and RI D9110 activities”.

It beat two other news platforms nominated in that category; NewzSpy Online and Legend News Online, to emerge a winner. 

The award ceremony was held at The Rotary Centre, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday 17th April 2024, and was attended by stakeholders in the media industry, Rotarians, and online participants across the world.

Brand Times alongside other prominent media houses like Channels Television, New Telegraph, and Arise News won the 2023-2024 edition of the awards. 

Rotary International District 9110 Humanitarian Reporting Awards (RHRA) is an annual event designed to strengthen cordiality and partnership between Rotary and the media, by recognising and honouring journalists and media organisations with outstanding records of reportage of District and humanitarian intervention projects of the clubs in the communities. 

Receiving the award, Editor-in-Chief of Brand Times, Azeez Disu applauded the contributions of Rotary International District 9110 to humanity through its various initiatives that are in line with its mission and vision, pledging that Brand Times will continue to tell impact-driven stories.

In his words, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award, as a media organisation we will continue to contribute to humanity by telling and showcasing impact-driven projects, initiatives, and stories that will contribute to a sustainable world. Today, the media is needed more than ever to tell the stories and solutions as the world is hit by climate crisis and other sustainability issues. Rotary International has been at the forefront of making an impact and we urged other organisations to do the same in the interest of making our planet safer and the people happier.”

The chairman of the award, Ehi Braimah, in his welcome address, said “This year’s award winners emerged through a unique selection process as the committee used a bottom-up approach by requesting clubs to fill out online nomination forms. The returns were thereafter painstakingly analysed to select the winners. I make bold say it was a very credible, transparent, and seamless process.”

Earlier in her opening remark, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9110, Ifeyinwa Rita Ejezie said it will continue to partner with media organisations and journalists to showcase the impact it is making in society, adding that the winners emerged after a rigorous selection process but overall the nominees who didn’t win also deserve an applaud for their contributions to the society.

“I want to congratulate all the winners for the good work they have done, the best thing is to do more. The winners have been awarded  for their hard work and the good stories they have told about Rotary International and we also expect that going forward it won’t stop and they will continue to partner with us to tell our stories to the world.”

On his part, the Keynote Speaker of the award, Gbenga Adefaye, Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism tasked media professionals to tell more of positive stories of hope and solutions and reduce their focus on negative stories.

“For us as media professionals, it starts with the stories we choose to tell and how we tell them. Without necessarily ignoring our usual advocacy to hold the government responsible and put the feet of our leaders to the fire, we should not be focusing solely on the negative. There are plethoras of gripping tales that bleed the hearts; there are also stories of resilience, compassion, triumphs, and humanity at its best. There are stories of individuals and communities who are working tirelessly to make a difference, who are standing up for what is right, and who are building a more just and equitable world. Stories that give hope, “he explained.

Speaking on the award, the Vice Chairman of the Awards Committee, Rotarian Olalekan Otun said that over 140 Rotary clubs and 14,000 Rotarians participated in nominating entries for the awards.

Other winners of the awards and the categories they won include Best TV Station, Channels TV; Best Newspaper, New Telegraph; and Best TV Station in Online Reporting, Arise News. 

Also, AlsoOutstanding Broadcast Journalist went to TVC’s Eniola Popoola; Outstanding Print Reporter, The Nation’s Joseph Eshanokpe; Outstanding Club Public Image Chair, Rotarian Ifeoma Williams – Rotary Club of Lagos; Best Club in Use of Outdoor/OOH in Promoting Humanitarian Activities, Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate; Most Outstanding Club in the Use of Social Media, Rotary Club of Akute; and DG’s Prize for the overall Best Rotary Club in Humanitarian Reporting, Rotary Club of Lagos.

Similarly, over 50 Rotarians and friends of Rotary were honoured with “Advocates of the Humanitarian Reporting Awards”. Also, frontline vocalist, lyricist, and dancer, Yinka Davies thrilled guests with he electrifying performance.