By Jude Michael
The correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Aloysius Attah, has won the 2025 edition of the Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Ethical Journalism Prize of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council.
The Prize was instituted in the year 2020 by Prof. Chinyere Okunna, first female professor of Mass Communication in sub-Saharan Africa, and presently Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul University, Awka, to reward outstanding journalists that adhere to the core ethics of journalism practice in their reports and in their personal conducts while in practice.
Attah was declared winner during the 2025 Press Week Grand Finale and Man of the Year Awards of the NUJ Anambra State Council held, August 28, at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka. Anambra State.
His report titled, “Inside Anambra’s troubled communities”, published in the Saturday Sun edition of June 28, 2025, was adjudged the best among the entries received during the competition by the Panel of Judges chaired by Mr. Chuka Nnabuife, Fellow, Nigeria Guild of Editors and former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of defunct National Light Newspapers, Anambra State.
In the winning report, Attah disguised as a cleric on missionary work and entered Lilu Community, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, a community rendered prostrate and under the siege of unknown gunmen.
He was held hostage for over three hours by non–state actors who accused him of being a spy on a mission but later released unhurt.
The Chairman of the Jury Panel, Nnabuife, said Attah’s report was outstanding among all the entries received from both broadcasting, print journalism and online publication categories, followed by that of Ukpa Ewa of the Truth Online, with the report, “Why Anambra may not produce a female governor soon”.
He said the panel, composed of editors, journalists in the academia, practicing journalists and those in management level, including Jude Atupulazi, Editor-in-Chief, Fides Newspaper, Awka, scored the entries submitted on the criteria of originality, balance of sources, adherence to investigative rigours, style of presentation, relevance to public interest and journalistic ethos.
Nnabuife disclosed that the 2025 edition of the award could not produce a second runner up because most of the reports submitted fell short of the required standards and called for improvement in quality stories, even as he urged journalists to commit themselves to the ideals of thorough investigation, editorial excellence and ethical practice.
‘The jury recommends that journalists should practice and prioritise investigative journalism. There should be greater emphasis placed on key journalistic principles. Journalists should also continue to improve their editorial skills,’ he said.
The Traditional Ruler of Obosi Community and Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRUC), Igwe Chidubem Iweka, who presented the award plaque, certificate and cash prize dummy cheque to Attah on behalf of the organisers, praised him for practicing exemplary journalism rooted in professionalism and purpose.
Professor Okunna in her remarks, congratulated the winners and the jury for their painstaking efforts. She noted that she remained committed in sustaining the Prize in the years ahead towards encouraging practicing journalists in the state to embrace professionalism.
She described ethics as a core principle of journalism which every journalist needed to succeed in the profession and appealed to members of the council to continue to uphold such in the discharge of their duties.
In his remarks, the winner, Aloysius Attah, commended Prof. Okunna for providing such a platform to encourage journalists in Anambra to do more. He also thanked the jury panel for their sense of judgement and professionalism and the State Council of NUJ for taking the council to the next level.
Attah who is the Chairman, Catholic Media Practitioners of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Onitsha Archdiocese, also expressed gratitude to the Managing Director of the Sun Publishing Ltd, Onuoha Ukeh; the Daily Editor, Iheanacho Nwosu; and the Weekend Editor, Tope Adeboboye, for their encouragement and motivation, which, he said, had guided him to do some human interest stories that helped in reshaping society positively.
Before now, Attah had won other awards. He won the Best Investigative Reporter of the Year, 2011 and Co-Culture Reporter of the Year, 2012, in The NATION –Coca-Cola Students Reporters Awards. He also emerged 1st runner up in Year 2015 and 2016, respectively, in the Promasidor Quill Awards Education Category.
