Ray Ekpu investigative journalism prize opens 2026 entries, increases prize money to N1.75m

The Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism has opened entries for its 2026 edition, offering a total of N1.75 million to investigative journalists of Akwa Ibom origin, as two new sponsors join the initiative established five years ago to promote accountability journalism.

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The Ray Ekpu Prize Committee in a Facebook post on Thursday said entries opened on 5 October and will close on 23 October.

The competition is open to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists of Akwa Ibom origin who practise in Nigeria.

The 2026 edition is sponsored by the Inoyo Toro Foundation, the Ibom Heritage Preservation Foundation and Umoh Joshua. The latest sponsorship arrangement increases the total prize money from N1 million to N1.75 million.

The overall winner will receive N1 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive 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 executive of ExxonMobil in Nigeria, as part of efforts to recognise outstanding investigative journalism and encourage journalists to hold public officials 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 magazine.

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The inaugural award through 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 first runner-up (N300,000) and a second runner-up (N200,000).

At the time, Mr Inoyo described the initiative as a contribution to improving journalism in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. He said the award was intended to reward quality, factual investigative reporting and encourage journalists to uphold the profession’s watchdog role.

Mr Inoyo, who retired from ExxonMobil after more than three decades of service, rose to become vice-chairman of the company’s Nigerian affiliates. He studied political science and law at the University of Calabar and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.

He established the Inoyo Toro Foundation in 2007 to promote education and human-capital development, including the recognition of teachers and the mentoring of students in Akwa Ibom.

Through the foundation, he has continued to support the journalism award, which has expanded its prize money over the years. The addition of the Ibom Heritage Preservation Foundation and Mr Joshua as joint sponsors for the 2026 edition brings further financial support to the initiative.

The award honours Mr Ekpu, whose career in journalism includes his role in establishing Newswatch in 1985 alongside Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed. The magazine became a prominent platform for investigative reporting and political journalism in Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES journalists among past honourees

Ekemini Simon, a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, is a four-time winner of the Ray Ekpu Prize, having won the award before joining the newspaper.

Mr Simon was also a runner-up in 2024 edition in which Cletus Ukpong, the regional editor of PREMIUM TIMES, won the prize. Saviour Imukudo, another PREMIUM TIMES journalist, was a runner-up in the 2025 edition.

The journalists’ records reflect the award’s recognition of investigative reporting that check public institutions, exposes wrongdoing and contributes to public accountability.

Eligibility, judging criteria

According to the committee, eligible reports must have been published or broadcast between 21 October 2025 and 20 October 2026. Entries may come from print, online, radio and television journalism.

Applicants must provide evidence of publication or broadcast, including verifiable details of the date, time and media organisation. Television entries must include a video recording of the broadcast.

Entries will be assessed against six criteria: depth of investigation, conformity with the ideals of journalistic excellence, style and language of presentation, contribution to good governance in public office, impact on the fight against corruption and impunity, and contribution to national unity and ethnic cohesion.

The committee said the depth of investigation and journalistic excellence carry 20 points each. Style and language account for 15 points, while the remaining three criteria carry 15 points each.

Interested journalists can apply through rayekpuprize.org by selecting “Apply Now”, creating an account, completing their profiles and submitting their entries.

The committee said the winners would be announced at a public event later this year.