14 Journalists Shortlisted for 20th Wole Soyinka Investigative Award

Fourteen journalists representing 10 Nigerian news organizations, including The PUNCH, have advanced to the finals of the 20th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR). The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) announced the shortlist amid celebrations for its 20th anniversary, highlighting two decades of fostering courageous reporting that exposes corruption, human rights abuses, and regulatory lapses. ​

Finalists emerged from 184 nationwide entries, rigorously evaluated by a judges’ panel led by Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director of the Institute of Continuing Education at the University of Lagos. WSCIJ Executive Director Motunrayo Alaka emphasized the milestone’s role in bolstering democracy, press freedom, and public-interest journalism since the award’s inception in 2005. The selected works demonstrate depth, ethical rigor, and societal impact, aligning with criteria like evidence quality and creativity. ​

Shortlisted Journalists

1.Elliot Ovadje (The PUNCH)

2-6.Kingsley Jeremiah, Ann Godwin, Tina Todo, Julius Osahon, Monday Osayende (The Guardian)

7.Muslim Yusuf (Trust TV)

8.Victor Asowata (The Will)

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9.Ugonma Mathias (African Angle)

10.Kunle Adebajo (HumAngle)

11.Afeez Hanafi (Daily Trust)

12.Isah Ismaila (HumAngle Media)

13.Emenike Chukwuemeka (New Telegraph)

14.Theophilus Adedokun (freelance, National Record) ​

Winners will be revealed on December 9, 2025, at the AGIP Recital Hall, MUSON Centre in Lagos, capping the two-day virtual Amplify In-depth Media Conference themed “Investigative Reporting and the Future of Truth.” Keynote speakers include Rosental Alves from the University of Texas at Austin and Khadija Patel of the International Fund for Public Interest Media. Since 2005, WSAIR has honored 58 laureates and produced 130 finalists across print, broadcast, online, photo, and cartoon categories.