Journalist for Christ, a Christian media fellowship in Nigeria recently held a reception for media award winner and nominees. Lekan Otufodunrin and David Lawal reports
Seun Akioye, Senior Correspondent of The Nation Newspapers in Lagos, Nigeria has every reason to be grateful to God as profusely as he did at the November Fellowship of Journalists for Christ (JFC) on Saturday, November 15.
This year, he has won two international media awards and three local ones which include the International WASH Media Award. The others are the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) Environment Reporter of the Year 2014, NMMA Investigative Reporter of the Year 2014, Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the year 2014 and ICFJ/HALA Nigeria Story Contest.
” I return all the glory to God for all the awards,” Akioye said while speaking at the reception for 2014 media award winners and nominees by the JFC at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos.
Akioye said: “I know many guys who are better writers and journalists than me. These guys are geniuses. But it has so happened that this season, I am favored by God.
In my closet I tell myself the truth. I am not the best but God has decided to bless the little I do. That is why I am returning the glory to him.”
Other award winners and nominees at the reception included Akinremi Adeola, Features Editor of Thisday Newspaper, Winner of the NMMA Print Reporter of the Year, who had to travel to Kano a day after a bomb attack by terrorists in the ancient Northern city for the story that won him the award.
Akinremi said “Ability means wisdom that helps you achieve success. It is God that gives that ability to succeed. It is not by your knowledge alone but the almighty God to whom I am grateful for what He has done in my media career.”
Even when a reporter does not win awards or get commendation for stories written, Akinremi says
” God is seeing your work and will reward you.”
Amina Brai Omoike, won the NMMA Brands and Marketing Reporter of the Year award while her husband and coach, Benjamin was runner up in three categories.
Though she has had the unfortunate experience of always working in troubled media houses, Amina is grateful to God and her husband for the award which she says is a reward for the passion God has given her for journalism since her internship days.
” God especially used my husband who has been nominated for many media awards over the years to encourage and mentor me. To God be all the glory that our labour has not being in vain,” Omoike said.
Benjamin who said he has also learnt a lot from his wife urged journalists to always put their trust in God and never give up even when they don’t win awards for their work.
Deji Ademigbuji of The Nation , a Muslim convert after becoming a journalist , who won the inaugural Schneider Electric Media Award for Counterfeiting in Africa recalled his tough experience while combining media studies and working full time.
Since returning to mainstream journalism after a failed attempt to get Advertising and Public Relations job, Deji said “God has continued to bless me with one award after the other even when some of my colleagues did not initially think that I was someone to reckon with.”
While commending the award winners and nominees for being good ambassadors for Christ in the profession, President of the group, Lekan Otufodunrin said Christian journalists must not forget that the ultimate prize for every Christian is to make heaven.
” You have done well by winning these awards and I want to urge you and others to continue to be the best in your work so that we can be truly the light and salt of the profession.
” On the day of judgment, it will not matter how many earthly or professional prizes we won, but how faithful we were to God’s purpose for our lives. Will God be able to tell you and me, well done good and faithful servant, enter into your rest?” Otufodunrin said.