The Ray Ekpu Investigative Journalism Prize has opened entries for its 2026 edition, increasing its total prize purse to N1.75 million. This upward review of the award money follows the addition of two new sponsors to the initiative.
Founded in 2021 by Udom Inoyo, the prize was established to honour the legacy of veteran journalist Ray Ekpu and to encourage high-quality, evidence-based reporting across Nigeria. At its inception, the award offered a top prize of N500,000, but the increase in the 2026 purse reflects a growing commitment to supporting the resource-intensive nature of investigative work.
The prize targets journalists who have produced impactful stories that uncover corruption, promote transparency, or address systemic failures in governance and public service. By providing financial incentives, the initiative aims to mitigate some of the costs associated with deep-dive reporting, which often requires extensive travel, data procurement, and lengthy verification processes.
Support for Investigative Reporting in Nigeria
Ray Ekpu, for whom the prize is named, is a widely respected figure in the Nigerian media landscape, known for a career spanning several decades of rigorous reporting and analysis. The award seeks to inspire a new generation of journalists to emulate his commitment to truth and public accountability.
Investigative journalism remains a critical but challenging pillar of the Nigerian Fourth Estate. Reporters often face significant security risks and legal threats when probing powerful interests. Financial support through prizes and grants is often the only way independent journalists can sustain long-term projects that do not fit into the fast-paced cycle of daily breaking news.
The expansion of the prize money and the onboarding of new sponsors indicate a strategic effort to scale the impact of the award. By raising the stakes, the organisers intend to attract a wider pool of entries and reward the level of rigor required to produce world-class investigative pieces.
Interested journalists are expected to submit entries that demonstrate a clear methodology, verified evidence, and a tangible impact on public policy or the lives of citizens. The evaluation process typically involves a panel of experienced media professionals and academics who assess the depth of research and the ethical standards maintained during the reporting process.
Further details regarding the specific submission deadlines and the criteria for the 2026 entries are expected to be released through the official prize channels.
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