A journalist with DAILY NIGERIAN has been honoured with the prestigious Nigeria Union of Journalists ‘Journalist of the Year Award‘ and has received a prize of N1 million.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that Umar Audu, a reporter from DAILY NIGERIAN, was announced as the recipient of the inaugural NUJ Investigative Journalist of the Year Award.
Audu was awarded the grand prize for his covert investigation into the distribution of subpar degree certificates in Benin Republic.
The report revealed how the undercover journalist was able to complete a four-year degree program from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, Cotonou, Benin Republic, in under two months.
According to NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, the award is instituted to honor and reward a reporter who has done the best investigative reporting in the year under review. The story must have a significant positive national and international impact, leading to system improvements and enhancing the citizens’ quality of life.
Umar was recognised for his exposé on a booming certificate racketeering syndicate that sells substandard degree certificates from universities in Cotonou, Benin Republic to willing buyers.
The in-depth report by the Daily Nigerian reporter triggered swift reactions from Nigerian authorities, resulting in the suspension of accreditation for degree certificates from Benin and Togo, and the National Youth Service Corps introducing mandatory use of the National Identity Number for registration and mobilisation.
