By Danlami Umar
Kaduna, Nigeria – An investigative documentary funded by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has earned significant recognition, clinching the 2nd runner-up position in the Television Category at the 2024 Journalists of the Year Awards, organized by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF).
The documentary, titled “A Trail of Broken Promises: How a Furniture Company Left Communities in Despair,” was produced by Nigerian journalist Adeyemi Adekunle under the ICIR’s Open Contracting Reporting Project (OCRP).
It delves into the harrowing consequences of a failed road project that was wrongfully awarded to a furniture company with no expertise in construction. The result was a litany of tragedies: lost lives, destroyed livelihoods, and a worsening struggle to access basic healthcare services.
Shot with precision and a deep sense of responsibility, the documentary sheds light on the human cost of poor governance and systemic corruption.
It paints a vivid picture of rural communities grappling with neglect and the cascading effects of mismanagement. The investigative work stood out among numerous submissions, securing a spot among the finalists.
Adekunle was nominated alongside Sierra Leonean journalist Chernor Mustapha of Apex Multi-Media Co-op, who won the category, and Ibrahim Ismail of Trust TV, the 1st runner-up.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, held during the 8th Africa Conference on Development Journalism (#ACDJ2024) at Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, AMDF Executive Director Sekyen Dadik lauded the quality of submissions.
“The finalists, chosen from a highly competitive pool, demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment to reporting on critical issues that affect our continent,” Dadik said.
She said further, “The comments from the judges highlight the difficulty of selecting winners, which reflects the high caliber of the entries. We are incredibly proud of all the finalists for their contributions to journalism.
Their work exemplifies the importance of holding powerful interests to account and shedding light on pressing issues in our communities.”
The AMDF Awards aim to honor journalists whose work promotes transparency, accountability, and solutions to Africa’s development challenges. Adekunle’s documentary, funded by the ICIR, is a compelling example of how investigative reporting can spotlight governance failures and advocate for change.
With this recognition, Adekunle joins a distinguished league of journalists committed to exposing societal injustices and amplifying the voices of those often unheard. “A Trail of Broken Promises” is a reminder of journalism’s power to inspire accountability and transformation.
