UK EXCHANGE PROGRAMME FOR AWARD WINNERS

By Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) submits a comprehensive report of the exchange programme to the United Kingdon (UK) of its 2010 award winners- Mr.BagejoAdemuyiwa of Business Day Newspaper who took the prize for the print category, Mr. Peter Nkanga of 234next.com the online laureate and Mr. Femi Ipaye of P. M. News winner of the photocategory, to the British High Commission (BHC) today.

The programme, which held from Monday 6 March 2011 to Friday 11 March 2011 was an all-expense paid one-week intensive training exposurefacilitated by the Thomson Foundation, a highly reputable media training non-governmental organisation based in the UK with fundingsupport from BHC.

In addition to rigorous classwork and practice, the Soyinka Laureates made visits to top-notch international media and Non-Governmental Organisations amongst which were: Global Witness; a Nobel Prize winning natural resource investigations NGO, BBC World Service; the world's largest international broadcaster, Amnesty International; a human rights protection NGO, Panos Pictures; a photo agency specialising in global issues and ActionAid a global anti-poverty agency.

The laureates also had the opportunity of sharing details of their winning works, the award and the exchange programme during an interview with the BBC Africa Service which was aired on Saturday 11 March 2011.

Commenting on the success of the programme, Mr. Daniel Strevens, the Project Development Manager of the Thomson Foundation in an email to the WSCIJ Coordinator, Ms. Motunrayo Alaka showed his satisfaction saying 'I must repeat the fact that our trainers enjoyed working with the laureates and appreciated their levels of professionalism. If I may say so, I think this a wonderful reflection of the Wole Soyinka Centre and its annual awards.'

At their return from the UK, the laureates and the Centre's representatives were hosted by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lloyd and his team to a reception where winners shared inspirations from their experiences and how this in many respects had broadened their scope and would readily impact the quality of their working very colourful details.


Signed:

Motunrayo Alaka
Centre Coordinator (WSCIJ)

For Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ)