By Nurudeen Akewusola, The ICIR
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has recognised six exceptional fellows at the closing ceremony of its Open Contracting Reporting Project (OCRP).
At the event, held on Tuesday, December 10 in Abuja, the executive director of TheInvestigator Journalism Development and Innovation Centre and publisher of TheInvestigator, Archibong Jeremiah Ojanga, emerged as the overall best fellow.
Hafsat Bello, a freelance journalist, and Ekemini Simon of TheMail Newspaper were awarded first and second runner-up positions.
Other awardees are Justina Asishana of The Nation, Arinze Gideon, a freelance journalist whose work has appeared on platforms like Al Jazeera, and Hadiza Musa Yusuf of Prime Times News.
A seven-year project supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the OCRP trained more than 300 journalists from newsrooms across the country, leading to over 500 investigative reports.
These stories exposed irregularities in contract awards, procurement fraud, and mismanagement of public funds. They also prompted reforms, improved adherence to procurement laws, and heightened public scrutiny of government expenditures.
The ceremony featured a keynote address by the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, titled “Combating Corruption in Nigeria: The Imperative of Starting with Procurement Fraud.”
A panel discussion moderated by governance expert, Joe Abah, followed, featuring Hamza Lawal, chief executive director (CEO) of Connected Development (CODE); Lucy Abagi, CEO of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC); Gabriel Okeowo, country director of BudgIT; Victoria Bamas, editor at ICIR; and development journalist Khadija Bawas.
Ojanga described the award as transformative recognition and expressed gratitude for ICIR’s support, which he credited for his rise from a volunteer editor to a publisher.
He said, “I can’t express how happy I am. I’m not someone who puts my work out for awards, but this is a testament that people appreciate what we do.”
On her part, Hafsat Bello noted that the award meant a lot to her as a young female journalist from Northern Nigeria.
She shared how the fellowship had enhanced her capacity to produce impactful investigative stories and reaffirmed her commitment to accountability journalism.
About The Awardees
Archibong Jeremiah Ojanga is the executive director of The Investigator Journalism Development and Innovation Centre and publisher of The Investigator. The centre provides coworking spaces, IT services, training, and mentorship. A pioneer reporter of CrossRiverWatch, he served as managing editor for seven years and freelanced for national publications like The Nation, Punch, and The Sun. With over a decade of investigative journalism experience, Ojanga has written numerous impactful stories and mentored three newsrooms.
Hafsat Bello is a trailblazing journalist whose fearless reporting has driven societal change. Holding a BSc and MSc in Mass Communication, she has uncovered corruption and amplified marginalised voices through impactful stories. Her investigations into an abandoned school project and a community left in darkness led to tangible reforms. She focuses on issues like illegal mining and inadequate infrastructure in Kano State, blending advocacy with accountability to inspire solutions.
Ekemini Simon, a reporter with TheMail Newspaper, is known for incisive investigations into corruption and human rights abuses. He holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of Uyo and has won numerous awards, including the Ray Ekpu Investigative Journalism Prize. His investigative work under OCRP has exposed systemic corruption in Nigeria, earning him multiple recognitions for impactful journalism.
Justina Jumai Asishana, a senior correspondent at The Nation, specializes in conflict, health, and social justice reporting. She is an award-winning journalist with a focus on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, especially women and children. Beyond her work as a journalist, she mentors young reporters through the Media Mentors Network.
Hadiza Musa Yusuf, an investigative journalist with Prime Times News, focuses on uncovering systemic inefficiencies in the education and health sectors, particularly in Kano State. Her stories have exposed the decay of critical projects and inspired actionable solutions while holding stakeholders accountable.
Arinze Gideon Chijioke specialises in investigative journalism covering climate change, global health, and social justice. His impactful work has been published by prominent platforms like Al Jazeera and the Global Investigative Journalism Network. Chijioke’s investigation into illegal coal mining in Enugu State led to the arrest of perpetrators and a government ban on the practice, showcasing the transformative power of his reporting.