Again, Nigerian Observer reporter, Mike Osarogiagbon, wins Shaibu Investigative Journalism Award

A freelance journalist, Mike Osarogiagbon, has won the second edition of the Comrade Philip Shaibu’s Award for Investigative journalism in Edo State.

His entry was adjudged overall best among the eight entries for the competition.

His entry was a serial report on a vandalised grave, exhumed and stolen corpse of an octogenarian in Benin City published by The Nigerian Observer Newspaper.

Osarogiagbon, who emerged second runner-up in the maiden edition of the competition, was honoured alongside two others during the 2023 Annual Breakfast the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, had with journalists in Edo State at his residence in Benin City.

Speaking on behalf of a three-man committee that received entries electronically, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, said that the competition was categorized as Print, Electronic and Online media.

The criteria, he highlighted, included exemplary investigative works that compelled people in governance, public agencies to act and give accounts, amplified the voice of the vulnerable people and exposed matters of public interest.

He noted that the judges picked the entry submitted by Osarogiagbon in the print category as the overall best due to the painstaking investigative contents, follow-ups, confirmations and balance.

Comrade Alenkhe further noted that Osarogiagbon’s entry was also adjudged to have shown uncommon innovation and profundity, ethical journalistic courage, individual creativity and exposure of clandestine activities by some individuals and public officials.

The NUJ Chairman appealed to journalists in Edo State to engage in more investigative reports at the expense of political reports.

Sponsor of the award, Comrade Shaibu, said the award is in recognition of a journalist who investigated and exposed his detention as a student union leader in Kano by the military junta several years ago.

Others who were also honoured are Oliver Ijiogbe of Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), first runner-up; and Kevin Okunzuwa of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), second runner-up.

The overall winner received N250,000, first runner-up N150,000, and second runner-up N100,000.