News
NUJ sets N1m award for 2024 Investigative Journalist winner
An investigative journalist, whose work has local and international impact adjudged as the best in the entry for the 2024 NUJ Press Freedom Award would go home with a cash prize of N1 million, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Chris Isiguzo has said.
Isiguzo, who addressed a world press conference, said the NUJ will introduce the investigative award in the 2024 edition to promote the constitutional mandate given to the journalist as an agenda setter and advocate of good governance.
The President of the Union said, “Press freedom is the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions. Press freedom is a catalyst in the mobilisation of the citizenry to hold their leaders accountable as well as promote speaking truth to power.”
He noted that “the press is the fourth arm of government and recognised this in the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended.
Therefore, “it is the duty of the press to hold the government and citizens accountable at different levels.”
He said their decision this year was to combine the Good Governance Awards with the Press Freedom Awards as part of this mandate to showcase performances by various administrators.
He said the Press Freedom Awards, which celebrate the important principles of press freedom, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty,
Isiguzo said since press freedom is an indispensable pillar in the architecture of democracy anywhere in the world, no democracy can thrive without citizen’s adequate access to transparent and reliable information.
According to him, “Many journalists in Nigeria have faced harassment, threats, physical injury, imprisonment, and even death in the course of discharging their legitimate duties.
It is the courage and sacrifice of these journalists that we are celebrating by organising the 2024 Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards.
Isiguzo said, “Torch Bearers of Press Freedom Awards will be given to journalists who have faced harassment, physical injury, imprisonment, or death in their line of duty.
“Best Investigative Reporter of the Year Award will be given to the reporter who has done the best investigative reporting in the year under review.
“The story must have a significant positive national and international impact, have led to system improvements, and have enhanced the citizens’ quality of life.
“Press Freedom Platform Awards will be given to media houses that have supported press freedom
“Corporate Friend of the Media Awards will be given to corporate organisations that have supported press freedom.
“Defender of Press Freedom Awards will be given to experienced journalists and other Nigerians who have actively defended press freedom
“Lifetime Achievement Awards will be given to those who have shown resilience in supporting press freedom and/or have provided media platforms for journalists to practice their craft.
News
UK court jails Nigerian man for masturbating in front of a woman
British Transport Police said Odutola approached a woman on the train, looked her up and down and became aggressive when she refused to engage with him. He then exposed himself while sitting in a wheelchair and began masturbating while staring at the woman and telling her to “come over”
•A Nigerian man and registered sex offender, Babatunde Odutola
A Nigerian man and registered sex offender, Babatunde Odutola has been jailed in the UK after exposing himself and masturbating in front of a woman on a train travelling towards Manchester.
Odutola, 36, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 44 weeks in prison at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 14, after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and breaching a suspended sentence order.
The incident occurred around 7pm on Friday, September 11, on a train travelling through Cheshire towards Manchester Piccadilly railway station.
British Transport Police said Odutola approached a woman on the train, looked her up and down and became aggressive when she refused to engage with him. He then exposed himself while sitting in a wheelchair and began masturbating while staring at the woman and telling her to “come over”.
A fellow passenger intervened and escorted the distressed woman from the carriage.
According to police, CCTV footage showed Odutola continued masturbating as other passengers walked through the carriage.
British Transport Police officers arrested him after the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly. He was subsequently prosecuted and jailed within 72 hours of the incident
News
Digital Economy Minister Says NDPC Now Properly Functional With New HQ
” An asset recovered on behalf of the Nigerian people has now been returned to productive use for the Nigerian people. That is reform made tangible,” he said .
Abuja| NDPC new headquarters commission , Tuesday, 15 September,2026.
An EFCC-recovered property allocated to the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, has been transformed to the new headquarters of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in Abuja, as its headquarters.
Speaking during the commissioned ceremony of the building, the Honourable Minister incharge of the ministry, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, described the facility as a tangible demonstration of the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his commitment to building strong institutions that can support Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
The Minister emphasised that said the occasion represented more than the opening of a new office, but a reflection of the administration’s commitment to strengthening the institutions required to protect Nigerians and build trust in the country’s digital economy.
Dr. Tijani said, “Shortly after assuming office in 2023, President Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act into law, giving the NDPC the appropriate legal foundation and authority to protect the data and privacy rights of Nigerians.
The President also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to comply with established data protection laws and frameworks, demonstrating that government must lead by example in upholding the standards it expects from citizens and businesses.”
He added, “In the early days of the Commission, it was difficult to ask an institution to protect the data of over 200 million Nigerians and support one of Africa’s largest digital economies without the institutional resources to do so.
President Tinubu recognised this challenge and moved to solve it, approving the resources required for the NDPC to become properly operational and functional, while building towards becoming a sustainable institution in its own right.
He also directed that an EFCC-recovered property be allocated to the Commission as its headquarters.
“An asset recovered on behalf of the Nigerian people has now been returned to productive use for the Nigerian people. That is reform made tangible,” he said .
News
Boko Haram Denies Ceasefire with FG, Vows Continued Attacks
Boko Haram has strongly denied reports of a ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government and insisted that it will continue its campaign of attacks.
In a statement released by the group, the militants dismissed claims of any truce or negotiated pause in hostilities, describing such reports as false and misleading.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing operations against government forces and other targets, vowing that its attacks will persist without interruption.
The denial comes against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in the northeast and other affected regions, where the group has maintained a long-standing insurgency.
Security sources note that the latest statement appears aimed at clarifying the group’s position and rejecting any suggestion of dialogue or de-escalation with the authorities.
Military and government officials have not issued an immediate detailed response to the claim, though security operations against the militants remain active. Authorities continue to urge vigilance as the group signals its intention to sustain violence.
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