The official announcement of the awards to journalists was made at a recent “One Day Sensitization Workshop on Effective Reporting of Counterfeit Drugs Towards Reversing Maternal and Infant Mortality in Nigeria” jointly organized by Cradle Communications Limited and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in Abuja recently.
The awards include: Professor Dora Akunyili Annual Prize for the best journalist in Investigative Reporting on Counterfeit Drugs, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin Annual Prize for the best journalist in HIV/AIDS Reporting, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello Annual Prize for the best journalist in Analytical Reporting on Maternal and Infant Mortality Issues and Dr Paul Orhii Annual Prize for the best journalist in Judicial Reporting of Fake Drugs and Substandard Regulated Products
The purpose of instituting the awards, according to the Managing Director of Cradle Communications Limited, Mr Aminu Yusuf, was to encourage journalists to attain professionalism in terms of producing serious research materials and analytical reports on health issues so that the public could be better informed.
He said details of the criteria for nominations and shortlist of names of journalists earn the will be announced later, while the company also hoped that the award would stimulate healthy competition among correspondents to redouble their efforts in reporting and promoting public health in Nigeria .
Cradle Communications Limited is the publishing organization of Sheworld magazine, a general interest publication currently circulating in Nigeria with special focus on issues about women and children.
