TheCable’s Yekeen Akinwale wins DAME awards for Niger Delta reporting

Yekeen Akinwale, TheCable’s Abuja bureau chief, has won the 2023 Diamonds Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) for Niger Delta development reporting.

The 32nd edition of the DAME awards was held on Sunday in Lagos.

The annual award was initiated in 1991 to promote and recognise professionalism in the media by awarding outstanding individuals and organisations, and has inducted over 560 names into its hall of fame in print journalism, broadcasting, and advertising.

Akinwale won the Niger Delta development reporting category with his report detailing how low-carbon and cost-effective energy is empowering coastal communities in the region.

In the report, he x-rayed how Evbuwa village in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo has been long defined by neglect and near total obscurity, exposing residents to energy poverty and risks of climate change due to the usage of unclean energy and other practices.

The award category was sponsored by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) which rewards solution journalism reports on issues that align with PIND’s interests and focus areas, which are: reducing poverty, powering coastal communities, nurturing youth employment, fostering stability, empowering local organisations, influencing government policies, programmes, and practices, and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI).

Akinwale, who is a three-time winner of the DAME awards across different categories, said winning the prize in a short time during his stay at TheCable is rewarding.

“So, I feel excited about winning the category, particularly winning it for the second time running. For me, that is great and that it is also coming in my first year at TheCable feels so fantastic,” he said.

“I thank the management of the TheCable for providing the platform and my wonderful colleagues for all the love and support. I commend the organisers of the DAME for keeping the spirit alive for the past 32 years and also the management of PIND for promoting solution journalism in the Niger Delta region.”

Akinwale won the inaugural Niger Delta reporting category in 2022 while at HumAngle.

He was also awarded ‘Investigative journalist of the year’ in 2018 while at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

Akinwale is also a 2019 recipient of the Nigeria Media Merit award (NMMA).