DAME recognizes more talents Twenty-eight media professionals and media organizations in Nigeria were on Sunday November 30, 2008 conferred with awards at the 17th Annual edition of Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (D.A.M.E.) in recognition of their outstanding works done in 2007. The event held at Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Ikeja was attended by mass media stakeholders and representatives of corporate organizations. Mr. Lanre Idowu, DAME trustee and CEO of Diamond Publications Limited in his address of welcome, referred to the awards as a moment of renewal of hope in the country Nigeria, its people, future and destiny. Despite the appearance of mediocrity around us, he noted that “there are islands of promise, of hope that merit pays and there are those committed to promoting the spirit of excellence in the land.” The challenge to us all, he said, is to replicate these sparkles of brilliance into estates of excellence for our common good. He wants all Nigerians therefore to allow vision of a better Nigeria to govern their present actions in the newsroom, boardroom, studio, or in management meetings and in whatever capacity they are called to serve the country. The 28 winners are Simon Ateba, PM News for Action Photography, Albert Chigozie Ohams, Sunday Sun for Editorial Cartooning, Ayodele Ale, Saturday Punch for HIV/AIDS Reporting, Emmanuel Mayah, Saturday Sun, winner, Health and Agriculture Reporting categories, and Azubuike Ishiekwene, The Punch carted the Informed Commentary award. Other winners are Sola Alabadan, Daily Independent for Insurance Reporting, Betty Abah, TELL, winner, Child Friendly Reporting, Ehimare Oseghale, TELL for Sports Reporting, Tony Manuaka, Broad Street Journal for Capital Market Reporting and Abdulrafiu Lawal, TELL is Press Reporter of the Year. In Broadcasting, Rosemary Okorie, Voice of Nigeria won the Radio Presenting category, Rosita Chinyere Ndukwe, Voice of Nigeria, Radio Drama, Solomon Adebayo, FRCN, Abuja won in Radio Reporting while TV Documentary was won by Deji Badmus of Channels Television. TELL magazine with the highest number of awards is the Newsmagazine of the Year and its editor, Ayo Akinkuotu is the Editor of the Year while The Sun was voted the Newspaper of the Year. The Guardian emerged as the Best Designed Newspaper; Nigerian Tribune came first in the Editorial Writing category, and THISDAY is winner of the Child Friendly Media category. In Advertising, STB McCann Lagos and TBWA/Concept Ltd are winners in the Press Adverts (Services) and Press Adverts (Consumer Goods) categories respectively while Insight Communications Ltd carted away the four awards in the Radio Commercial and TV Commercial categories. Apart from the 28 recipients, three respected veterans of the communications industry in Nigeria, Dr. Christopher Koalde, CON, Mr. Ted Mukoro, frpa, and Chief Segun Olusola, OFR, were also conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Awards. This Lifetime Award accords deserving recognition to these icons as living patrons of the younger ones. The Diamond Awards for Media excellence is a private initiative founded in 1992 to stimulate media professionalism by rewarding talent and enterprise. Anthony Okafor Secretary, D.A.M.E. Board of Trustees 08034998190