The Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) has received 1,112 entries for its 34th edition, with 972 qualifying for assessment across the print, radio and television categories.
The entries were formally presented to the Chairman of the NMMA Panel of Assessors, Otunba Dele Adetiba, on Thursday at the organisation’s secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, during a press briefing on the 2026 awards.
Chairman of the NMMA Board of Trustees, Prof. Dayo Duyile, said the award was established in 1990 to promote professionalism, ethical journalism and excellence among media practitioners.
Duyile, a veteran journalist and academic, said the NMMA was founded by the late Alhaji Babatunde Jose, former chairman of the Daily Times, who led the organisation for 10 years.
He said the award has remained committed to recognising journalists who distinguish themselves through outstanding professional work.
According to him, journalism remains critical to national development because of its ability to influence public discourse, hold leaders accountable and shape national priorities.
Duyile said, ‘The NMMA is an organisation that encourages you and I, the media people, to perform our professional duties professionally and ethically.
‘It was established in 1990 to promote progression in journalistic activity in this country, to encourage journalists to become highly professionalised in their trade and to encourage them to showcase their skills like other international journalists.
‘Journalism, apart from all other things, is the only profession that can move a nation forward. It is the only profession that can also promote leaders and give them an agenda to follow.’
He urged journalists to document their experiences and consider publishing books based on their years of professional practice.
Adetiba, who is also a trustee of the NMMA, explained that the assessment process was designed to ensure fairness and eliminate personal bias.
He said the 972 qualifying entries would be assessed by about 27 assessors, divided into groups for print, radio and television.
According to him, print entries would be assessed by three groups of five assessors each, while radio and television entries would be assessed by groups of six assessors each due to their technical requirements.
He said each assessor would initially work independently before members of each group met to aggregate their scores.
‘This neutralises any kind of personal bias. Some can be generous with their marks; some can be stingy with theirs. It all evens out at the end of the day,’ Adetiba said.
He added that the assessors, comprising professors, heads of departments and experienced media professionals, would spend between six and eight weeks evaluating the entries before submitting their recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
Adetiba also disclosed that, for the first time, all entries for the 2026 edition were submitted electronically, describing this as part of the NMMA’s adaptation to technological changes in the media industry.
Responding to a question about why online media platforms were not included in the awards, Adetiba said the NMMA was monitoring developments in digital journalism but remained concerned about ethical and professional standards within the sector.
He said the organisation could consider bringing online platforms into the awards as the sector becomes more structured and accountable.
On recognition for runners-up, Chief Administrator and Trustee of the NMMA, Yemi Akeju, said the organisation had previously issued certificates to runners-up but was reviewing ways to extend additional benefits to participants.
He said some former runners-up had subsequently benefited from opportunities abroad, including scholarships and academic programmes.
Akeju, a co-founder of the NMMA, said the organisation drew inspiration from established international media awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and British Press Awards, before its establishment.
He said the NMMA had also contributed to the development of media awards across Africa, noting that some of its award winners had subsequently participated in judging international awards.
Akeju also recalled the support the award received from Nigeria’s leadership at its inception, saying successive administrations had continued to identify with the NMMA.
He stated that the organisation would continue to uphold the standards on which it was founded and sustain its contribution to journalism in Nigeria and beyond.
‘We will continue to sustain it, develop other things and ensure that the benefits get to the Nigerian nation. It is our hope to sustain it for the greater good of the country and for the benefit of the future,’ he said.
The 34th NMMA is expected to culminate in the presentation of awards to outstanding media practitioners whose entries emerge successful after the assessment process.