Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism Opens Call for Entries for 2025 Edition
By Ekemini Simon
The Committee for the Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism has announced the call for entries for its 4th annual competition, scheduled for 2025.
The competition, initiated by the Inoyo Toro Foundation (ITF) in 2021 and sponsored by ITF and Thomas and Grace Investments Limited, aims to recognize and reward outstanding investigative journalism in Akwa Ibom State.
According to a press statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Nsikak Essien and Secretary, Emem Nkereuwem, the competition is open to all registered members of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), including journalists working in conventional media houses, online publications, and those of Akwa Ibom origin practicing outside the state.
The statement notes that entries are restricted to publications made between November 2024 and October 2025 and will be assessed based on eight criteria, including depth of investigation, conformity with journalistic excellence, contribution to good governance, and promotion of human and individual rights.
Other criteria are style and language of presentation, impact on the fight against corruption and impunity, contribution to national unity and ethnic cohesion in Akwa Ibom State, and relevance to the fight against societal ills like rape and girl child abuse, among others.
The committee noted that the award ceremony, which will take place on November 7, 2025, will feature a prize money of one million naira, with the overall winner receiving five hundred thousand naira. The event will be held alongside the state’s Annual Teachers’ Award, organized by the Inoyo Toro Foundation.
The committee called on journalists interested in participating to submit their entries through the state council of the NUJ from October 3 to October 24, 2025.
The winners of the prize over the years are Ekemini Simon and Abasifreke Effiong -2021, Ekemini Simon -2022, Ekemini Simon – 2023 and Cletus Ukpong – 2024.