The Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism has opened entries for its 2026 version, providing a complete of N1.75 million to investigative journalists of Akwa Ibom origin, as two new sponsors be a part of the initiative established 5 years in the past to promote accountability journalism.
The Ray Ekpu Prize Committee in a Facebook post on Thursday mentioned entries opened on 5 October and can shut on 23 October.
The competitors is open to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists of Akwa Ibom origin who practise in Nigeria.
The 2026 version is sponsored by the Inoyo Toro Foundation, the Ibom Heritage Preservation Foundation and Umoh Joshua. The newest sponsorship association increases the overall prize money from N1 million to N1.75 million.
The general winner will obtain N1 million, whereas the primary and second runners-up will obtain N500,000 and N250,000, respectively.
How Inoyo established the prize
The prize was announced in July 2021 by Udom Inoyo, a lawyer and former senior government of ExxonMobil in Nigeria, as a part of efforts to recognise excellent investigative journalism and encourage journalists to maintain public officers accountable.
The Inoyo Toro Foundation formally instituted the award in September 2021, naming it after Ray Ekpu, the veteran Nigerian journalist and co-founder of Newswatch journal.
The inaugural award via 2023 carried a prize of N500,000 for the winner. However, in 2024 when Thompson & Grace Investment Ltd joined in sponsoring the award, the prize was expanded to accommodate a primary runner-up (N300,000) and a second runner-up (N200,000).
At the time, Mr Inoyo described the initiative as a contribution to enhancing journalism in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. He mentioned the award was supposed to reward high quality, factual investigative reporting and encourage journalists to uphold the career’s watchdog position.
Mr Inoyo, who retired from ExxonMobil after greater than three a long time of service, rose to grow to be vice-chairman of the corporate’s Nigerian associates. He studied political science and regulation on the University of Calabar and was referred to as to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.
He established the Inoyo Toro Foundation in 2007 to promote training and human-capital growth, together with the popularity of academics and the mentoring of scholars in Akwa Ibom.
Through the inspiration, he has continued to help the journalism award, which has expanded its prize money through the years. The addition of the Ibom Heritage Preservation Foundation and Mr Joshua as joint sponsors for the 2026 version brings additional monetary help to the initiative.
The award honours Mr Ekpu, whose profession in journalism consists of his position in establishing Newswatch in 1985 alongside Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed. The journal turned a distinguished platform for investigative reporting and political journalism in Nigeria.
PREMIUM TIMES journalists amongst previous honourees
Ekemini Simon, a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, is a four-time winner of the Ray Ekpu Prize, having gained the award earlier than becoming a member of the newspaper.
Mr Simon was additionally a runner-up in 2024 version by which Cletus Ukpong, the regional editor of PREMIUM TIMES, won the prize. Saviour Imukudo, one other PREMIUM TIMES journalist, was a runner-up within the 2025 version.
The journalists’ data replicate the award’s recognition of investigative reporting that test public establishments, exposes wrongdoing and contributes to public accountability.
Eligibility, judging standards
According to the committee, eligible studies should have been printed or broadcast between 21 October 2025 and 20 October 2026. Entries could come from print, on-line, radio and tv journalism.
Applicants should present proof of publication or broadcast, together with verifiable particulars of the date, time and media organisation. Television entries should embody a video recording of the printed.
Entries can be assessed in opposition to six standards: depth of investigation, conformity with the beliefs of journalistic excellence, type and language of presentation, contribution to good governance in public workplace, influence on the struggle in opposition to corruption and impunity, and contribution to nationwide unity and ethnic cohesion.
The committee mentioned the depth of investigation and journalistic excellence carry 20 factors every. Style and language account for 15 factors, whereas the remaining three standards carry 15 factors every.
Interested journalists can apply via rayekpuprize.org by deciding on “Apply Now”, creating an account, finishing their profiles and submitting their entries.
The committee mentioned the winners can be introduced at a public occasion later this yr.
