The Board and Management of Premium Times Media Group reaffirmed their commitment to fearless investigative reporting and public accountability.
The Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, made this pledge during the 4th and 5th combined editions of the Premium Times Awards Ceremony held in Abuja on Saturday.
Mojeed described the organization as an institution built on trust, ethical discipline, and unwavering dedication to the public good.
He noted that since its founding in 2011, the media group’s mission has been to strengthen democracy and hold power to account.
“From a modest niche school here in Abuja, Premium Times has grown into one of Africa’s most respected news platforms.
“Our investigative reporting has led to resignations, dismissals, and policy changes—not because we aimed to remove individuals but because we followed the evidence,” he said.
He highlighted the platform’s global impact, including its Pulitzer Prize-winning collaborations on the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers, which exposed offshore financial networks.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Idowu Obasa, announced the creation of a dedicated fund to ensure the awards are held annually.
Acknowledging the challenging business climate for Nigerian media, Obasa pledged to mobilize resources to support the “warriors” in the newsroom.
“Publishing is not like oil; the money doesn’t flow the same way. But we are committed to creating an environment where young men and women can thrive in their pursuit of truth,” he said.
Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, in a presentation titled “Why Premium Times’ Kind of Journalism Matters,” warned against the rise of “information traffickers” in the digital age.
He commended the organization for maintaining traditional journalistic ethics—accuracy, balance, and integrity—in a digital space often plagued by misinformation.
It was reported that the highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards, each accompanied by a cash prize of N500,000 for category winners.
The Managing Editor, Mr. Idris Akinbajo, stated that winners were selected based on investigative depth, relevance, quality of writing, and multimedia integration.
For the 2024 awards, Folasade Ogunrinde won “Story of the Year” for her investigation into illegal explosive operations, while Kabir Yusuf was named “Reporter of the Year” for his coverage of anti-corruption and security issues.
Bisi Abideye received the “Editor of the Year” award, and Aaron Cole was named “Digital Strategist of the Year.”
For the 2025 awards, the “Story of the Year” was a joint investigation into how battery recyclers in Ogun State were poisoning residents with lead.
Mariam Ileyemi was recognized as “Reporter of the Year” for her consistent reporting on development issues, while Nike Adebowale was named “Editor of the Year” for her leadership on health and development coverage.
Esther Adigi and Aaron Cole were named “Digital Strategists of the Year,” and Abiodun Ojo received the “Business Development Staff of the Year” award.
The ceremony received praise from key stakeholders, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, recalled how a Premium Times investigation into delays in driver’s license issuance prompted the agency to overhaul its infrastructure.
“Today, we have moved to biometric capturing and instant issuance because of that report.
“Continue your work; we will continue to partner to make Nigeria’s roads safer,” Mohammed said.
The Chair of the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ms. Grace Ike, also commended the organization for recognizing journalists who go beyond reporting to making tangible national impacts.
