WSCIJ introduces VinMartin Ilo grant for broadcast journalism in Nigeria

The application will be open on October 4

A not-for-profit investigative journalism organisation, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, WSCIJ, in conjunction with the Ilo family has introduced of an annual $3,000 (N450,000) grant for the production of  high quality broadcast reports.

The WSCIJ is the organiser of the prestigious Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, which has honoured several Nigerian journalists since 2005.

The grant, named after veteran broadcast journalist, VinMartin Ilo, will be awarded to an outstanding broadcast report “based on set criteria.” This year’s grant is in commemoration of Mr. Ilo’s 50^th birthday anniversary.

Mr. Ilo, who is the Director of the South East operation of Daar Communications, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower radio stations, has over 30 years experience as a broadcast journalist. He was the former Special Adviser Media to the Governor of Enugu State.

Jude Ilo, who represented the family, said the grant would be award annually on Mr. Ilo’s birthday (January 30) to “honour the veteran and give back to the profession through the development of young journalists.”

The coordinator of the WSCIJ, Tunrayo Alaka, said the grant is coming at the right time, as the broadcast journalism in the country needs urgent intervention. She said it has been difficult to find worthy winners of the broadcast categories (radio and television) of the centre’s award for investigative reporting in the last four years.

According to the WSCIJ, application for the grant will be made on October 4, alongside that of the 9^th edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting.