News
Nigeria’s Esteemed Investigative Journalist, Ejiro Umukoro, Honoured with USAGM ChangeMaker Award 2023

Delta State’s finest investigative journalist, and epitome of journalism prowess in Nigeria, Ejiro Umukoro, has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to media and journalism with the pretigious ChangeMakers Award presented by the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
The Award was presented by Inna Dubinsky, the Development and Training Manager at USAGM’s office of business development of the agency. Umukoro was lauded for her exceptional initiatives, unwavering committment to nurturing young journalists, and her relentless pursuit of delivering credible and unbiased news through LightRay! Media, an organisation she leads as the Executive Director.

This award, Dubinsky says, “is in appreciation for your impactful Initiatives and contributions to building capacity of the media in Nigeria and other countries, sharing your expertise and training new cadre of young journalists, and your dedication to providing truthful, objective and balanced news and information at LightRay Media”, Dubinsky emphasied.
Popularly referred to as “Lady E”, Ejiro Umukoro’s impact transcends borders and industries. Her influence extends throughout Nigeria’s media, entertainment, communications, and career development sectors. She is credited for discovering and nurturing talents like Timi Dakolo, Leri (one of Burna Boy’s producer), renowed Mark Angel Comedy, Angel D’ Laff (PH Comedy Club) among others.

Journalists, writers, and broadcasters within the Nigerian media landscape have also benefited from her training programmes, mentoring, and now recently launched fellowship.

Umukoro’s investigative works have triggered tangible change. Notably, her in-depth report on the rising trend of Female Cultism in Delta State prompted the Ministry of Education to declare a state of emergency. Her expose on the ‘Ritual Does Not Give Us Money’ by yahoo plus boys led to the incarceration of offenders and preventive measures being taken at Saint Patrick’s School, among other interventions.
Her efforts during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to shed light on gender-based violence contributed significantly to raising awareness and catalyzing legislative action, including the passage of crucial acts in Delta State aimed at curbing such atrocities.
Furthermore, her pioneering initiative of establishing the first investigative-driven radio station in Delta State as the Pioneer General Maanger, and her role as the Covener of LightRay Women in Media Leadership Initiative have reshaped the media landscape, advocating for greater female representation and leadership roles in newsrooms.
All of these impactful investigations led her to publish her creative investigative book titled, Distortion, a highly read recommended book within the media spaces and currently being considered as a book to be read by secondary school students in Nigeria by the education ministry. Book two of Distortion will be launched next year, 2024.
Ejiro Umukoro’s accolades and recognitions, including the British Council International Young Communications Entrepreneurs Award and the Report Women Leadership Award from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, are a testament to her unwavering dedication and influence in the field of journalism.
Ejiro Umukoro’s journey to journalistic excellence has been marked by various prestigious fellowships, grants, and international speaking engagements. Her work has been featured on global platforms, positioning her as a sought-after expert on issues spanning continents.
ABOUT EJIRO UMUKORO:
Ejiro Umukoro’s is the first and only Nigerian to win the British Council International Young Communications Entrepreneurs Award, the first and only Delta to receive the Report Women Leadership Award of Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, nominated for the ICFJ Award, and Code for Africa’s Wanadata South-South Champion.
Due to the impact on her investigative work into the rising trend of Female Cultism in Secondary Schools in Delta State, she inspired parents and school principals to take action which led to the declaration of a state of emergency by the Ministry of Education to fight the menace. Her investigative report also got the Saint Patrick’s School to raise the entire perimeter of its fence to prevent further abuse of its premises as a hideout.
Her other investigation into the ‘Ritual does not give us money’ by yahoo plus boys exposed their modus operandi, with the perpetrators now currently in jail.
Her Pulitzer Centre (USA) recognised work on gender based violence during the height of COVID-19 contributed in no small way in the amplification of the issues, which added the required push along with other CSOs, NGOs, for the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP ACT) in Delta State and the promotion of the Child’s Right Laws.
She is also notable for setting up the first ever investigative-driven radio station in Delta State and across the Niger Delta as its pioneer general manager.
As the Convener of LightRay Women in Media Leadership Initiative, through the support of over two hundred and seventy professional women and men in the media industry across Nigeria, Malawi, Congo, Afghanistan, South Africa, Kenya, etc, she began a policy drive that was adopted by the National Office of the Radio Managers of Nigeria (Private) to stimulate the intentional and deliberate decision within newsroom and across the hierarchy of media cooperate governance to give more women journalists leadership responsibilities to close the leadership gap.
During the course of her career, she has mentored directly and indirectly over three thousand mentees.
News
VIDEO: Tears As Students’s Hostel Collapses

A building collapse occurred at Pentagon Lodge near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State on Friday.
Students witnessed the incident, with one student captured on video expressing concern over the lodge’s collapse, saying, “See my lodge is falling, all my properties are inside.
”A video clip of the incident, seen by Naija News House , showed the moment the three-storey building collapsed.
As of the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether there were causalities as details of the collapse are still emerging.
A student, also said that students in that particular lodge had earlier noticed the cracks on the walls and some had already moved out of the facility before the collapse.
“Only properties inside the building are likely those of students that traveled out of the town,” the source said.
Recently there were reports of building collapses in Ebonyi State, including a three-storey building under construction near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital.
In the construction building collapse, two persons were trapped and later rescued, with one labourer escaping due to stepping out to wash his hands before the collapse.
Sequel to the building collapses, the Ebonyi State government had established a special investigative committee to determine the causes of such incidents and prevent future occurrences.
The committee’s findings and recommendations aim to improve building standards and enforcement in the state.
Click here to Watch Video:
News
FG denies 12 Years Minimum Entry Age Into JSS1
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

The Federal Government has debunked a report claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.
The Ministry of Education Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, made this known via a statement issued on Friday, July 25, 2025.
Boriowo said the report was inaccurate, noting that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government policy.Boriowo stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years.
“No child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”
Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.
News
NGE Mandates Media Organizations to set up fact-check desks in the newsroom to Fight Fake News
During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

Editors under the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have resolved today to henceforth set up a fact-check desk in their various newsrooms as a measure to tackle fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
The decision was reached on the occasion of a one-day workshop organised by the European Union (EU) NGE in Lagos on Thursday.
The editors said that having a Fact-Check Desk would help media organisations verify news hints, with the view to publishing only accurate information.
Other key decisions taken at the end of the workshop include:
Media organizations should organise trainings for their newsroom managers and line editors on fact-checking.
The Guild should set up disinformation counter groups across its zonal structures, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Media organizations should collaborate and reach out to each other to verify information.
Media organisations should look at the quality of their Online Editors to ensure that experienced and well-grounded journalists man the position.
The Guild should use other of its bigger platforms to address issues bordering on fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
During the workshop, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Gautier Mignot and the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, said that newsroom managers should acquire the skills and tools for fact-checking as a way to arrest fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
Mignot said that the EU was taking a multi-pronged approach to address the threats posed by misleading information, which he described as a “danger to democracy and public trust.
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