Olanrewaju Oyedeji, a journalist with Dataphyte, Africa’s foremost data journalism organisation has been selected for honour at the 17th edition of the prestigious Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism awards.
Olanrewaju, who is among the thirteen journalists to be celebrated across the country, was selected for his three-part story exposing corruption in the award of notebook contracts in Oyo state.
The story exposed how the Oyo state government abused the contractual process in the award of contracts worth N1.2 billion between 2019 and 2021. The report also exposed how these contracts were awarded to shell companies and companies owned by cronies.
#NotebookGate: Yet Again, Makinde-led Oyo Govt Awards Contracts Worth N694 million to Companies Owned by Cronies
The report linked the owners of these companies to the governor of Oyo state.
Olanrewaju had also earlier been shortlisted for the PWC awards about a month ago, where he emerged as a finalist in two categories of the award.
The organizers, in a press statement announcing the finalist list, stated that thirteen journalists cut across print, online, photo, cartoon, television, and radio categories were selected for honour at the 17th edition of the awards.
The investigative reporting award has rewarded 109 finalists, 56 Soyinka Laureates, and 12 investigative journalists of the year since its inception in 2005.
The other shortlisted journalists include; Babatunde Okunlola of Diamond FM, Osun; Chukwuemeka Emenike of New Telegraph; Olatunji Obasa of PUNCH; Abdulaziz Abdulaziz of Trust TV; Gbenga Salau of The Guardian; Amadin Uyi of News Central Television; Zainab Bala of Trust TV; Deji Lambo of Punch; Victor Asowata of The Will; Hassan Adebayo of Premium Times; Folashade Ogunrinde of TV360; and Juliana Francis for her story in New Telegraph.