Lady Ejiro Umukoro, General Manager Maga FM, Warri
By Nkechi Odumosor
ASABA/Nigeria: The University of Benin Alumni Association, UBAA, had as part of its 2020 Annual Lecture, recognised one the products of the University, Lady Ejiro Umukoro, for her outstanding works as an Investigative Journalist.
The award which was conferred on her at an event that was well attended by Nigerians from different works of live, including captains of industries, at the David’s Centre, Asaba on 16 December, 2020, also saw the group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited and Norsworthy Farms, Dr. (Engr.) Gabriel Ogbechie, honoured.
Ejiro Umukoro, who amongst other assertions, is a multi-award-winning broadcast anchor, Social Entrepreneur, a Nominee of ICFJ Knights Award, and a Fellow and Awardee of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalist Report Women Leadership Program, WanaData South/South Champion.
Umukoro’s Data-Driven Investigative Report into Rise of Female Student Cult-Gangs in Delta State prompted proactive steps by Delta State Government to declare an emergency in the educational sector in addressing this issues across schools in Delta.
During the COVID-19 Lockdown, Ejiro Umukoro’s Investigative Series into Spike of Domestic Violence in Nigeria, Broken Girls and Broken Boys Trapped Under COVID-19 has had such an impact as a key voice that amplified the stories of victims to a global audience, which culminated alongside other human rights activists to the overwhelming call for the declaration of a State of Emergency into rape, and domestic violence by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the passing of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) in Delta State where she resides. She is mentoring over 109 student journalists in over 10 universities across Nigeria in an ongoing Media Mentoring training programme through LightRay Media.
She is the author of Distortion, a fictional mental health thriller coming on the heels of her investigate report into gender-based-violence and child abuse. The book is based on true life incidences she has witnessed or reported on in the course of her career as an anchor, journalist, mentor, and media trainer, tapping deeply into the Nigeria social fabric that reveals deeply entrenched pejorative and stereotyping in a way that makes us question our deepest motivations. Read an excerpt of Distortion, and order copies of the book here. You can also learn more about the inspiration behind the book and its timeliness in light of the recent #ENDSARS movement in Nigeria through this interview with the author.
Ejiro Umukoro’s Mission in life is to inspire the greatness in people and to create sustainable creative economies in a digitally converging global community.
For the award, her Ama mata, Igoshi-Oshodi Comprehensive High School, wished her a greater exploits in years to come, while the Oke Epia orderpapers, in congratulating her, said “It is good a gold fish cannot hide, but it is better that it uses its shine to illuminate others.”
The Publisher of Ndokwa Reporters, and and the Brief, online based news platforms, and Chairman of the Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF Emmanuel Enebeli, was at the event along with other members to felicitate with the awardee.
