Mr Anietie Akpan (left) receiving the Meritorious Veteran Award of Excellence In The Media Industry from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi at the 5th Beatrice Bassey Ita Best Journalist Award ceremony in Calabar on Saturday.
By Kelvin Obambon
In recognition of their excellent contributions to the journalism profession in Nigeria, and Cross River in particular, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, has conferred the Meritorious Veteran Award Of Excellence In The Media Industry on the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of PillarToday Newspaper, Mr Anietie Akpan.
Also awarded were Mr & Mrs Charles Eniang, Publisher & General Editor, Glimmer Newspaper who bagged the Veteran/Evergreen Couple award.
Mr. Patrick Ugbe MD/CEO, Hit FM, Calabar; Comrade Emma Akpong, Former GM CRS Newspaper Corporation & Permanent Secretary (Rtd); and Comrade Vitalis Igboejelam Ugoh, Editor, Median Newspaper got the Meritorious Veteran Award of Excellence in the Media Industry.
The awards were bestowed on them at the 5th Beatrice Ita Investigative Journalism Award ceremony held on Saturday, 20th September, 2025, at Hogis Royale Hotels, Calabar.
The Beatrice Ita Investigative Journalism Award celebrates journalists for excellence and courage in investigative journalism. The award, brought back after 14 years hiatus, commemorates the late Beatrice Bassey Ita, a pioneer journalist and advocate of truth. It aims to reward diligence, professionalism and ethical bravery in the media profession.
Prior to this award, Mr Akpan in 2023, received the Safe Child Africa International Award of Excellence for his investigative reporting on witchcraft branding in Africa. He also won the 2006 Diamond Award on Media Excellence (DAME) on Environment and in 2011, he was the winner of the 4th Beatrice Bassey Ita Award in 2011. In 2017, he was honored with the Outstanding Service, Leadership and Contribution to the Development of Cross River State and Humanity by Legacy Awards Africa.
He retired from the Guardian Newspaper in 2023 as the South South Deputy Bureau Chief.
National President of NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya who graced the occasion, praised the courage of investigative journalists, describing them as defenders of democracy.
He emphasized that investigative journalism remains crucial to Nigeria’s democracy as their work speaks truth to power, exposes wrongdoing, and drives societal progress. “Investigative journalism is the backbone of democracy, promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance,” Yahaya said.
On her part, Chairman of NUJ, Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, described the Beatrice Ita Investigative Journalism Award as a source of inspiration to journalists.
“Reminiscing on some of the chilling experiences shared by colleagues during investigative work, I can only be grateful to God for preserving our lives. Some of us have come face to face with death all for the passion of journalism, and it gives me great joy that some of these efforts are rewarded tonight,” she said.
Sponsor of the award, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, said that while sustaining her mother’s legacy through the award, the initiative was more than a memorial.
“Thank God today that her daughter, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has deemed it expedient to keep these memories alive by sustaining this award, not only as memorabilia but also as a way of encouraging young professionals to follow the path of hard work, excellence and success,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, who presented the award to Mr Akpan, praised the NUJ for sustaining the Beatrice Ita Investigative Journalism Award and called on journalists to uphold integrity in their work.
“Investigative journalism is not just about exposing wrongdoings, it is about shaping society and giving voice to the voiceless. I encourage our journalists to remain fearless, ethical, and committed to the truth, because the future of our democracy depends on a free and vibrant press,” Obi who was the chairman of the occasion said.
