AN INVESTIGATION published by National Record has again been shortlisted for another media prize, this time, the prestigious Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR), a press statement signed by Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ disclosed on Thursday.
The two-part report, authored by Adedokun Theophilus, examines Dangote’s pursuit of cheap energy and the resulting environmental pollution of key main rivers depended on by several communities in Okpokwu, Ohimini and Otukpo LGAs of Benue State.
The report is among 14 entries shortlisted for this year’s award, which is the 20th edition, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
This year’s celebration is particularly significant, as it marks two decades of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, defending press freedom, promoting journalistic excellence, and advancing the critical role of investigative reporting in exposing injustice and holding power to account.
From a total of 184 entries received nationwide, the finalists were carefully selected by the 2025 WSAIR judges’ board, chaired by Professor of Mass Communication, Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, who is the Director of the Institute of Continuing Education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the statement stated.
The winners will be unveiled during the 20th WSAIR presentation ceremony, which will also double as the WSCIJ@20 anniversary celebration.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, 9th December 2025, from 5pm to 8pm (WAT) at the AGIP Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, with a red-carpet session commencing at 4pm.
Among the shortlisted journalists are Kingsley Jeremiah, Ann Godwin, Tina Todo, Julius Osahon, and Monday Osayende of The Guardian; Muslim Yusuf of Trust TV; Victor Asowata of The Will; and Ugonma Mathias of African Angle.
Others include Kunle Adebajo of HumAngle; Afeez Hanafi of Daily Trust; Elliot Ovadje of The Punch; Isah Ismaila of HumAngle Media; Emenike Chukwuemeka of New Telegraph; and Theophilus Adedokun, a freelance reporter with National Record.
Collectively, their stories embody the courage, depth, and commitment to public interest that have defined WSAIR’s legacy since 2005, WSCIJ’s statement noted, adding that the award ceremony will serve as the official closing event for the 2025 Amplify In-depth Media Conference and Awards.
Winning Multiple Awards
The National Record investigation has continued to gain recognition beyond WSAIR. It previously won the Extractive Industry category of the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA).
Moreover, it has also been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2025 Africa Conference on Development Journalism (ACDJ), scheduled to take place from 3rd-4th December 2025 in Kaduna, Nigeria.
