Sowore: Wole Soyinka Centre Postpones Award For Osinbajo

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) says it has postponed the presentation of an award to the Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that the postponement was decided on, to align with protests against Nigerian Government’s repression of freedom of speech in recent times especially the incident between the Department of State Security (DSS) and Omoleye Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, on Friday 6 December. The Centre said in a press statement on Monday morning that it believes Vice President Osinbajo himself shares this awareness and the inappropriateness of the award at this point.

Nonetheless, the Centre said that the award presentation programme will hold as scheduled on Monday, 9th December 2019 by 6pm. No fewer than 13 journalists from print, online, television, radio, photo, and editorial cartoon categories will be celebrated. Veteran photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole and Amnesty International Nigeria will also be presented honorary awards of the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence and the Anti-Corruption Defender Award (Human Rights Specialty) respectively.

The WSCIJ holds the award presentation event on December 9, the World Anti-Corruption Day and eve of the World Human Rights Day to highlight the importance of investigative reporting as a tool for accountability, good governance and social justice in a democracy.  The award event is free to attend for members of the general public