The Nation shines at DAME awards

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THE Nation was the toast of the media at the weekend, bagging three awards at the pretigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

Ambassador Moses Ihonde and chairman of the ocassion presenting the award of the Best Informed Commentary won by Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation, Sam Omatseye, at DAME Awards

This newspaper won the Best Editorial Writing in the 19th edition of the awards held at the Sheraton Hotels in Ikeja.

The Nation, which made its debut on July 31, 2006, won the award with its December 4, 2009 editorial entitled: "Yar'Adua: The Constitution is Supreme."

The Nation's Editorial Board Chairman Sam Omatseye, won the award for Informed Commentary with the opinion published in his Monday column, "In Touch", on April 20, 2009.

It is entitled: "Does he know he is President?"

Cartoonist Azeez Oniya Ozi-Sanni, who had two nominations, won the award for best Editorial Cartooning with "PHCN". It was published on November 13, 2009.

There were three shortlists for each category. Ozi-Sanni's cartoon, "Global Economic Meltdown", published on February 18, 2009, was also nominated.

The Nation was nominated for Newspaper of the Year Award, along with Thisday, Daily Champion and The Punch, which won.

Former Punch Editor Steve Ayorinde, nominated along with The Nation Editor Gbenga Omotoso and Daily Champion Editor Justus Nwakanma, won the Editor of the Year Award.

TELL is the Newsmagazine of the Year and Next the Best Designed Newspaper.

Thisday won the Child Friendly Media Award.

Sesan Olufowobi, a crime reporter with The Punch, won the Press Reporter of the Year Award as well as the Child Friendly Reporting Award, with his story entitled: "Rescued from Human Traffickers in Togo, three-year-old Nigerian waits in vain for reunion with parents." It was published on January 3, 2009.

The Nation's Evelyn Osagie was nominated for the Child Friendly Reporting Award, with her story: "Destined to live", published June 24, 2009.

Other categories include Action Photography, won by Bayoor Ewuoso, formerly of the Punch with "Two wrongs..." published on May 14, 2009; Political Reporting, won by Oyewole Adeyinka of National Standard with "A Vote for Corruption", published on November 15, 2009; Agriculture Reporting, won by Sina Fadare of Champion with "The World of Cocoa" published on October 18, 2009; Sports Reporting won by Arukain Umokoro of Tell with "Standing Tall", published August 31, 2009.

STB McCANN won the best Press Advert, Consumer Goods Award with "Williams print"; Rosabell won the TV Commercial, Consumer Goods Award with "P&G Always Ultra TV commercial"; and Novelpotta Y&R won the Radio Commercial, Consumer Goods Award.

Omatseye said he was pleased to win the award, adding that The Nation's editorials stand out from the pack.

"I am happy that I won the Informed Commentary Award, but I'm happier that The Nation won the best Editorial Writing award.

"I have always said that we are one paper with the choice editorial team. It means that our paper's editorial is taken very seriously. Our editorials depict rage and laconic depth, which no other paper can boast at the moment."

Ozi-Sanni said: "I am elated and honoured by the award, especially after last year's nomination and award of NMMA's Cartoonist of the Year. I am particularly pleased to receive official recognition for my efforts in using art as a form of commentary on social ills and political happenings.

"The latest award further strengthens my resolve to work harder to promote the ideals of my medium, The Nation, and the Nigerian society in general."

The Chairman of DAME's Board of Trustees, Ambassador Moses Ihonde said Nigeria must get next year's general elections right.

He said Nigeria needed some form of revolution to bring about change.

"Some of us think Nigeria needs some revolution; not a bloody one. In due course, we'll unfold it," Ihonde said.

In his view, media reporting of kidnapping is inadequate. He recalled that when he went through Benin City recently, he borrowed a bullet-proof car to avoid being kidnapped.

Guests at the event included retired Justice of the Court of Appeal Omotayo Onalaja; the Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye; Chief Akin Odunsi, Managing Director of DAME, Mr. Lanre Idowu; Mr Lanre Arogundade; and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Gbenga Adefaye

The Nation shines at DAME awards