THISDAY Shines at National Crime Watch Award Night

At the 2018 National Crime Watch Awards recently held in Lagos, two editorial staff of THISDAY Newspapers carted laurels for their contribution to security and judiciary

The National Crime Watch Award night might have come and gone but the memory does linger, especially in the minds of the two members of the editorial team of THISDAY Newspaper. The reason is not far-fetched, the paper was the highest winner of the night as it carted two awards in the crime and judiciary categories.

While Chiemelie Ezeobi, the Group Features Editor for THISDAY Newspaper, comprising the features, crime, defence, metro and health desks, carted away the Investigative Female Crime Editor of the Year 2018, the Best Judiciary Correspondent of the Year 2018, was awarded to Akintunde Akinwale, also of THISDAY Newspaper.

In her speech, Ezeobi lauded the organisers as the nomination itself came and surprise. According to her, having covered the crime and allied beats for over eight years, each laurel that comes in the line of reporting was one to be cherished as it depicts hardwork and sacrifice. Nonetheless, she pledged to work harder in the male-dominated beat despite having been promoted to an editor in June this year. According to her, once a reporter, always a reporter. She also commended THISDAY Newspaper for giving her the platform as a rookie reporter fresh from NYSC to cover crime and security beat, adding that they also took it a notch further and also appointed her to head a desk as a female.

For Akinwale who is the second term running Chairman of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondent (NAJUC), it was a pleasant surprise to have been nominated too. Stating that he was not even aware that someone somewhere was watching his deeds, he said this was his first award, adding that it will push him to do more. He however acknowledged his media platform, THISDAY for giving him the space to excel.

The duo was presented their awards by Captain Joseph Nnodim, the representative of the Chairman of the event, Wale Olaoye of Halogen Security Limited.

Tagged the National Crime Watch Awards 2018: Celebrating 15 years of pioneering crime reporting in Nigeria, the event started off with a red carpet at the conference room of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. After the opening prayer and National Anthem, the Publisher National Crime Watch, Mr. Tony Okpe took to the podium to deliver his welcome address, which was followed with the keynote address by Mr. Frank Oshanugor.

In between the comic and musical performances, the award edition was unveiled leading to the cutting of the 15th anniversary cake. The highlight of the evening however was the official launch of the Tony Okpe Foundation, which is a budding passion of the publisher to reach out to inmates in prison.

That soon set the tone for the event as professionals cutting across the media, judiciary and security were recognised for their dedication to duty. Top among the awardees were
Justice Mojisola Dada, of the Special Offences Court, and Adenike Adeniyi-Coker of the Lagos State High Court Division, who were recognised as the National Crimewatch Judge of the Year 2018 and Outstanding Judicial Personality of the Year, respectively.

Commending the latest edition of the magazine, Dada said, “I am elated as It is worthy to unveil the brain storming session of sleepless nights put into producing this beautiful publication too. It is really, highly commendable. The publisher is going to find a lot of support from God and man and Nigeria will be blessed for it.”
Also, Coker in her brief speech noted that there has been lot of work put into the publication, adding that “they will grow from strength to strength, more support will come for his company and his family.”

Other Award Winners
Other journalists who bagged awards and recognition in different categories were Precious Igbonwelundu of The Nation Newspaper for the Investigative Reporter of the Year; Mr. Eugene Agha of Daily Trust Newspaper for Investigative Crime Editor of the Year; Prince Albert Akpor Uba, Publisher of Crimeworld Magazine for Editor-In-Chief/ CEO of the Year; Philomena Ngozi Oji, Editor- In-Chief/ CEO www. cornerstonewsng.com for Investigative News Digital Platform of the Year; Mr. Sunday Odita, The Guardian Newspaper as Most Influential Crime Editor; Mr. Frank Sochukwu Oshanugor, Editor-In-Chief, Security Express Magazine received a recognition award.

Other awardees include Barrister Ene Sarah Unobe, Chief Executive Officer, International Centre For Human Non-Violence and Safety Awareness as Human Right Lawyer of the Year; CP Imohimi Oluwole Edgal, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, as Man of the Year; DSP Abba Kyari, Commander Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of Inspector General of Police as Police Detective of the Year; DCP Muhammed Ali Ari, DC Operations, Lagos State Police Command as Outstanding DCP Operations of the Year; CSP Chike Godwin Oti, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer as State PPRO of the Year; CSP Akaninyene Etuk, OC Lagos Anti Cultism Squad as Anti Cultism Officer of the Year; CSP Rieninwa Philip, Coordinator IGP/IRT South West Nigeria Police Force, Lagos received Excellent Award in Crime Fighting; CSP Peter Gana, OC Lagos Federal Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS as Crime Burster of the Year; DSP Aduroja Akinola Olurotimi, OC ICT Unit, FSARS received Recognition Award Tracking Criminals Using ICT.

Others include DSP Matilda Umaih, Lagos State Deputy Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command received Most Resourceful Female Police of the Year; ACP Tunji Disu, Commander Lagos Rapid Response Squad, RRS, who received Special Recognition Award for Crime Fighting; Mrs. Oluwakemi Adedeji, OC Lagos Police Human Right Unit, received Special Recognition Award.

Other awardees include: Mr. Akinwunmi Lawal, Managing Director, Nigeria Police Force Microfinance Bank, PLC, as Microfinance Bank CEO of the Year; Wale Olaoye, MD/CEO Halogen Security Limited as CEO of the Year Private Security Company; Charles Aigbe, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications for Fidelity Bank, PLC received Special Recognition Award; Fidelity Bank, Security Support Bank of the Year;NPF Microfinance Bank PLC as Microfinance Bank of the Year; Shegatol Security Services Limited as Best Private Company of the Year and F’Square Security Services as Event Security of the Year.