PREMIUM TIMES’ JOURNALIST, OLAWOYIN SHORTLISTED FOR GLOBAL AWARD
The shortlisted, hails from Armenia, Ghana, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka, ”won over judges at the foundation with their stories about putting all people first”, while the organisers disclosed that this year, almost 200 entries contested from 55 countries.
The countries include; Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nicaragua, Moldova and Mexico among others, while the award encourages journalists to mainstream marginalised voices and share ‘difficult truths’, while other shortlisted Nigerian journalists include : Damilola Banjo and Amos Abba.
Penpushing further reports that,others are Aamir Ali (India), Kushane Chobanyan (Armenia), Meiryum Ali (Pakistan), Sarita Santoshini (India), Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman (Ghana), Rubatheesan Sandranathan (Sri Lanka), Bukeka Silekwa (South Africa), Saurabh Sharma (India) and Julius Luwemba from Uganda.
The Premium Times reporter was the best student in his department ast University of Ilorin and was also Editor of the University’s flagship Student publication, UNILORIN WATCH, alongside other campus-based publications.
Penpushing also reports that, in 2017, Olawoyin was nominated in the journalism category of the Future Awards Africa held in Lagos, while in October 2018, he was named finalist in the West Africa Media Excellence Awards in Ghana and nominee in the Golden Pen Awards organised by Nigerian Breweries.
The journalist, was last December named “Global Goalkeeper” by the Gates Foundation at an elaborate event in South Africa in recognition of his reporting of the global goals, and was also a recipient of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting.
Penpushing reports that, each of this year’s 12 shortlisted entrants will receive a certificate commending them on the high standard of their work, and will have the opportunity to participate in the Thomson Foundation e-learning platform, Journalism Now.
The statement announcing the shortlist said,“the final selection will be left to independent judges chosen by the FPA and will be revealed in October. The three most promising finalists will then be flown to London and the winner will be announced during a gala awards ceremony at the end of November.”
