Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Aloysius Attah, has won the 2025 edition of the Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Ethical Journalism Prize of the Nigerian 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 adhered 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 during the weekend at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka. Anambra.
His report titled “ Inside Anambra’s trouble communities” published in Saturday Sun edition of June 28, 2025 was adjudged the best among the entries received during the completion by the Panel of Judges chaired by Mr. Chuka Nnabuife, Fellow, Nigeria Guild of Editors (FNGE) and former Managing Director/ Editor-in –Chief of 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 the non –state actors who accused him of being a spy on a mission but later released unhurt after over three hours.
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 and the need for journalists to commit themselves to the ideals of thorough investigation, editorial excellence and ethical practice.
“The jury recommends that journalists should practice and priotise investigative journalism, there should be greater emphasis placed on key journalistic principles, journalists should also continue to improve their editorial skills” he said.
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 remark congratulated the winners and the jury for their painstaking efforts. She noted that she remains 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 needs to succeed in the profession and appealed to members of the council to continue to uphold such in the discharge of their duties.
In a remark, the winner, Aloysius Attah commended Prof. Okunna for providing such platform to encourage journalists in Anambra to do more. He also thanked the jury panel for their sense of judgement and professionalism and the Odogwu Emeka Odogwu led NUJ Anambra State Council 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 Weekend Editor, Tope Adeboboye for their encouragement and motivation which he said has guided him to do some human interest stories that helped in reshaping the society positively.
Before now, Attah has won other awards in the past. 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 Ist runner up in year 2015 and 2016 respectively in the Promasidor Quill Awards Education Category.
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