L-R:Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu; Nicolaas Velverde, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries; Tobi Aworinde, the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year and Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Chairman Panel of Judges, NB Golden pen Award at the Award night in Lagos

Punch Reporter, Tobi Aworinde has emerged the 2016 Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award Reporter of the Year for his human interest and investigative report. The award which is the 8th in the series is aimed at promoting professionalism and objective reportage of events in Nigeria.

Gbenga Salau of the Guardian Newspaper clinched the first runner-up in the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award Reporter of the Year category, while Charles Abah, also of the Punch emerged as the second runner-up in the same category.

It was a winning night for Punch Newspaper; Sodiq Adelakun also of The Punch won the Photo Journalist of the Year award. Odutayo Odusanya also of The Punch emerged as the first runner-up, while Ayodele Ojo of The Sun Newspaper was the second runner-up. Gabriel Dike, an education reporter with The Sun Newspaper won the ‘NB Report of the Year’.

All the winning journalists also got cash prizes and high-end mobile devices as part of the reward package.

The Award attracted dignitaries from all work of life, Journalists, media executives, business executives, politicians including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.

While welcoming guests at the event, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Nicolaas Vervelde disclosed that the award was launched eight years ago to promote professionalism and objectivity of media reports. He explained that the choice of Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development as the focus of this year’s edition, like in the last two years, is hinged on the fact that no country can lay claim to development and prosperity without adequate attention to the education and empowerment of the youth.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was present at the event, applauded Nigerian Breweries for sustaining the award over eight years and saluted the courage of journalists for their contribution to the nation’s development. He appealed to the media to continue to be the watchdog and gatekeeper of the nation’s democracy.

John Momoh, Chairman/CEO, Channels Television, guest speaker at the event, called for soul-searching by the media and extolled them to bridge the gap between training and practice.

Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Managing Director of Tanus Communications and Chairman of the Panel of Judges commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative and enjoined journalists to aspire to the highest standards.

According to the Panel of Judges, a total of 267 entries were received when submission closed for the award and the best entries won the award.

L-R:Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu; Gbenga Salau of the Guardian Newspaper, the first runner-up in the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award Reporter of the Year category and Nicolaas Velverde, Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries; at the Award night in Lagos