Mr Duru Ekene-Innocent, an Assistant Editor with The Nation on Weekend, has proudly mounted the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) podium at different editions after his first shot in 2017. The Mass Communication graduate of The Polytechnic Ibadan, has also won the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) award too and others. He was back on the rostrum on December 13, returning to his newsroom with two NMMA awards. In this interview with TheTabloid.net, he reflects of his journey to the media limelight and secret of his multiple awards. Excerpts
You once told me you were once a teacher, did you enter journalism to win awards?
I took to teaching before going for NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) . I did that to earn income to sustain myself after leaving higher institution. I returned to teaching after the NYSC when no job was forthcoming. Again the decision was to sustain myself instead of staying idle at home and becoming a liability.
I eventually got an opportunity to freelance with The Sun after which I joined National Life. I didn’t know anything about media awards until I joined The Nation. I am a journalist because I want to serve as voice for the voiceless. All my works are public interest journalism. Awards are the rewards that come for doing that. I am always fired up to take up to invest everything I have in any that affects humanity especially the downtrodden.
How and when did your journey with NMMA start?
I started getting nominations for NMMA in 2014 after I did a report titled ‘Perilous Venture’. The report which was about irregular migration to Libya didn’t win but it made me to have interest in migration reporting. I started winning awards in 2017. I felt on top of the world after the jinx was broken. People only see the success story but unaware of the years I wept profusely for getting nominated and not winning. My wife was the one who always consoled and tell me that my time would come and when it does it would be massive. She uses a portion of the Bible to always make the declaration. After 2017, the awards never stopped coming. In 2020, I won four NMMA awards. When I thought I had seen it all, I went to Kogi in 2021 and scooped 5 awards. So far.
How many have you won altogether?
I have won 25 NMMA awards. Altogether, I have won 29 competitive journalism awards, including DAME, UNESCO, WAMECA and I international Organization for Migration West and Central Africa award.
Which of your winning stories overstretched you?
Because the efforts are borne out of passion, I don’t see any as stretching me. I approach every story with the same energy and commitment to better the lives of the common man and the society. Am always looking pregnant when pursuing and writing my stories. I only feel relieved after delivering the works.
What’s the secret of winning?
The secrets of my winning are: Prayer, I pray to have good stories. Also, my resolve to focus my work on the good of the poor and the society.
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