APCON

By Raheem Akingbolu

A total of 471 journalists have sent in 726 entries for the 2010 Nigeria Media Merit Award, Chairman, panel of judges for this year’s edition, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, has disclosed. Abuja has also been chosen as the venue of the 2011 ceremony.

Speaking at the inauguration of the panel in Lagos, the University don, who was represented by a former Chairman of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Mr. May Nzerebe, said the journalists, who put in the best from their 2010 works, would be slugging it out with one another in 49 categories of this year’s edition.

According to Nzerebe, the entries received this year are the highest since 20 years ago when the award was inaugurated.

While calling on stakeholders in the media industry to continue giving their support to the organisers of the award, he pointed out that funding and nonchalant attitude of some individuals, government and organisations have so far remained major challenges of NMMA.

Speaking further, he commended the federal government, some state governments and corporate organisations, for the feat the organisers have achieved over the year.

Earlier, the chairmen of board of trustee of NMMA, Hajji Alade Odunewu, who led the 25 member panel to the venue of the inauguration, commended the judges for their commitment and crave for excellence and transparency.

He said; “NMMA has grown to become no 1 media awarding panel in the continent because of certain things, which revolve around integrity and dedication.”