DAME presents 18th edition with book and music The craft of informed commentary received a boost at the 18th presentation of the annual Diamond Awards for Media Excellence on Sunday, December 6 with the release of a new book, “Nigerian Columnists and their Craft.” A groundbreaking work on the role, place and essence of column writing and columnists in Nigerian journalism, it is edited by Lanre Idowu, and has as contributors: Adidi Uyo, Mike Awoyinfa, Sunny Ojeagbase, Stanley Egbochuku, Dan Agbese, Emeka Izeze, Ben Lawrence, Tony Momoh, Felix Adenaike, Gbenga Omotoso, and Maxim Uzoatu. The 250 page book features the works of columnists across various generations from Ebenezer Williams to Mohammed Haruna, Doyin Abiola, Ochereome Nnana, Azu Ishiekwene, Reuben Abati etc. Dedicated to Alade Odunewu, it is the organisers’ gift to the profession in this 150th year of the Nigerian press. 29 prizes in journalism, broadcasting, and advertising, and three lifetime awards were presented at the event held at the Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos. The lifetime awardees are Chief Anthony Enahoro, former federal information and culture commissioner, and midwife of Africa’s first television station; Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former managing director/editor-in-chief of ANN plc and one-time president of the International Press Institute; and Mallam Turi Muhammadu, former editor and managing director of the New Nigerian. Tell magazine and The Guardian emerged Newsmagazine and Newspaper of the year respectively. While Tell’s Helen Eni won the News Agency prize for Agriculture, Adejuwon Soyinka won the Corporate and Financial prize for Capital Market reporting, Adekunle Yusuf won the Peninsula Resort prize for Health reporting, Stella Sawyer won the Sovereign Trust prize for Insurance reporting, and Ayo Akinkuotu won the Nigerian Guild of Editor’s prize for the Editor of the Year. The Guardian bagged the Alade Odunewu prize for Informed Commentary (Reuben Abati), the Tunji Oseni memorial prize for Editorial writing and the UNICEF prize for Child friendly reporting (Chukwuma Muanya). Other winners include: Olalekan Adetayo of The Punch (editorial integrity), Adewale Adeoye of Nigerian Compass (political reporting), Toyosi Ogunseye of News Star (judicial reporting), George Erapi of the Sun (editorial cartooning). Solomon Adebayo of FRCN won the Radio Nigeria prize for Radio Reporter of the year, while Ifeoma Osaka and Ojeiwa Aizehingbe of Voice of Nigeria won the Radio Drama and Radio presenter of the year awards. Insight Communications cleared the three prizes in press, radio and television advertising. DAME trustee, Mr. Lanre Idowu, in his address, urged the winners to continue to strive for excellence, observing: “The country will be requiring from you more diligent application to duty, more commitment to excellence, and enhanced balanced judgment in the coming months.” He noted that 355 prizes had been awarded in 18 years of DAME. After highlighting significant developments in the industry, he urged the audience to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the departed members of the profession: Peter Ajayi, Doyin Mahmoud, Dorothy Ovbiagele, and Bayo Ohu. He also acknowledged the positive developments: the arrival of new titles on the news stand, the celebration of landmark events by veterans Alhaji Lateef Jakande, 80, Chief Duro Onabule, 70, and Prince Tony Momoh, 70, Ms. Bunmi Sofola, 60, and Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, 50. He congratulated the television industry for marking 50 years, the Nigerian Tribune for celebrating 60, and the Nigerian Press for clocking 150 years on December 3. He urged the sponsors of the Nigerian Press and Practice of Journalism Council to withdraw it as it is “a child of distorted features, a hotchpotch of confusion, and an embarrassment to the community. Rather than persist in error, its sponsors should withdraw it, go back to the consensus bill of 2002 as the launch pad for any meaningful dialogue involving government-media on statutory regulation.” The event was lively with good music and a good mix of the old and new actors in the industry.