Warri – Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) , in partnership with the Pan Atlantic University (PAU) , has honoured journalists who have participated in the Advance Writing And Reporting Skills (AWAReS) programme for displaying excellence in their writing skills since graduation.
The maiden “Award and Reward Ceremony” was designed to appraise the journalists and see how well they had put to practice the training acquired during the programme.
Welcoming the winners to the event which held at Omu Resort in Bogije, near Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, the General Manager, Policy, Governmental And Public Affairs (PGPA), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Esimaje Brikinn, expressed satisfaction at the avalanche of feedbacks from the media practitioners.
“It is my honour to welcome you all to the maiden edition of the post AWAReS event on behalf of Chevron Nigeria Limited.
“I congratulate the award winners and Pan Atlantic University (PAU), for the successful exercise.
“The post -AWARES award was planned for this year to recognize and reward past participants in the programme who have been adjudged as consistent excellent performers in their journalistic activities by a team of academic and professional judges put together by PAU.
Speaking further, Brikinn, represented by CNL’s External Communication Coordinator,PGPA, Victor Anyaegbudike, who joined the event via zoom, said Chevron’s sponsorship was geared towards capacity building.
“CNL pioneered the AWARES programme in collaboration with the PAU in 2014 to foster our partnership with the media and facilitate capacity building of the media practitioners to enhance their skills in performing their duties.
“Over 100 journalists have benefitted from the programme since its inception in 2014 and the participants have continued to attest to the positive impact of the training on their skills development in Journalism.
“Our vision as a company is to be the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership, and performance. It is our usual practice to partner with relevant stakeholders everywhere we operate, in our efforts to achieve common business and development goals.
“In Nigeria, we have established enduring partnerships with different stakeholders, among whom are governments, non – governmental organizations (NGOs), business organizations, communities and of course the media.
“Chevron takes seriously its role as a member of the community in Nigeria and is actively involved in partnering with our stakeholders to implement various projects promoting health, education, and economic development.
“As a company, we recognize that our business success is deeply intertwined with the success of the larger society and we believe it is in our long-term interest to add value to society, as we create value for our shareholders.
“We therefore go beyond the traditional contributions that may have physically improved a neighborhood, but did little to influence society in sustainable ways.
“As partners, we seek for better mutual understanding of our business environment, its challenges, and its growth potentials.
“I encourage you, as our critical stakeholders, to be balance, fair and accurate as you tell our stories,” Brikinn enjoined.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Isaac-Ogugua Ezechukwu, Director, Professional Education, PAU, described the ceremony as first of it’s kind.
According to Isaac-Ogugua , the award is to appreciate AWAReS alumni who had “distinguished themselves by putting to practice in special ways what they have been taught in their different classes.
“The purpose of the Recognition and Rewards Ceremony is to continue to promote professionalism and track the performance of sponsored journalists since the completion of their courses,” Mr Ezechukwu added.
“About 120 journalists, drawn from across Nigerian newsrooms, have been sponsored to participate in the AWARES training programme in the last six years.”
He further stated that the training programme at the Pan Atlantic University’s School of Media and Communication was aimed at creating opportunities for journalists to hone their writing skills as well as achieve proficiency in research and critical thinking.
He said, it was intended to help build a critical mass of creative, investigative and innovative journalists championing social change through their reportage of the various industries across the country.
A review faculty panel was constituted to screen and grade the articles based on established criteria and winners emerged per ‘course year’ on the basis of best quality article.
Ezechukwu Isaac-Ogugua, before his presentation of the awards to the winners, reeled out the criteria in grading the submitted published articles which bordered on Oil and Gas Sector, to include: organisation, level of content, development, grammar and mechanics, style, format and clear focus and unity.
Among the winners were Mrs. Betty Efosa Idialu of Nigerian Observer), who tied the 1st position with Jerome Onoja of Majorwaves Energy Report in the class of 2018 ; Ebenezer Adurokiya of the Nigerian Tribune ( class of 2017) ; Celestine Ukah( 2016); Theophilus Onojeghen ( class of 2018) among others.
Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Betty Idialu of Nigerian Observer, lauded PAU and CNL for the opportunity the training has availed them adding that, the award is a big morale booster; she also used the occasion to appreciate Ebenezer Adurokiya of the Nigerian Tribune (AWAReS 2017 winner)who she described as a mentor indeed, taking her through the rudiments of journalism.
The winners in the 1st position each went home with a brand new 2,500 capacity Elepaq generating set, while the 2nd position winnerss got brand new 2,000 capacity Elepaq generating set each, courtesy CNL.
A total of 14 winners emerged. 8 in the 1st position while 6 emerged in the 2nd position.
They were drawn from a pool of several entries .
The event was an occasion to unwind, and dine in the beautiful ambience at the Omu Resort.
Among other faculty staff present were, Dr. Mike Okolo, Dean of the School of Media and Communication, PAU;
Opeyemi Gazali, Programme Coordinator, School of Media and Communication, PAU.
