Media Rights Agenda (MRA) announces the opening of a Call for Entries for the Dr Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards to recognize and celebrate journalistic excellence in promoting transparency and accountability through the effective use of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
Purpose of the Awards
Named in honour of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, who signed the FOI Act into Law on May 28, 2011, the awards, in two categories, will be given:
- In the First Category, to a journalist who has made the highest number of information requests under the FOI Act between May 28, 2011 and December 31, 2025. This Award category seeks to celebrate and encourage active use of the FOI Act by media professionals as a tool for promoting and ensuring transparency and good governance.
- In the Second Category, to a journalist who has, since the enactment of the FOI Act in 2011 made the most outstanding contributions in promoting the Act by raising awareness among citizens, government officials and the media about the Act, including its provisions, how to use it, its benefits, and the rights it grants and/or advocating effective implementation of the Act.
Eligibility
First Category:
To be considered in this category, applicants must satisfy all the following conditions:
- Be a journalist of Nigerian nationality, working in any print, broadcast, online, or multimedia outlet.
- Have made requests for information under the FOI Act, 2011, between May 28, 2011 and December 31, 2025, to public institutions or private entities to which the Act applies.
- Be able to provide verifiable evidence of each request, including the date of the request, the name of the institution to which it was made, subject matter of the request, acknowledgement or proof of receipt by the institution, and the response (if any).
- Maintain ethical standards in journalism, must not be under any legal constraint and must not have been adjudged by any regulatory or judicial body to be guilty of professional misconduct
Second Category:
To be considered in this category, applicants must satisfy all the following conditions:
- Be a journalist of Nigerian nationality, working in any print, broadcast, online, or multimedia outlet.
- Must have made and be able to demonstrate efforts aimed at promoting the FOI Act through any, some or all of the following: news stories, feature articles, opinion pieces or other media outputs aimed at raising awareness about the Act among citizens, government officials, the media or other sectors of the society, or advocating for stronger or more effective implementation of the Act; critiquing non-compliance, or in other ways contributing to public discourse aimed at strengthening the FOI framework.
- Be able to provide verifiable evidence of such media outputs, including the date of publication or broadcast, the media outlet, and the title, topic or subject matter of the output.
- Maintain ethical standards in journalism, must not be under any legal constraint, and must not have been adjudged by any regulatory or judicial body to be guilty of professional misconduct.
Criteria for Selection
Submissions for Category 1 will be evaluated based on:
- Number of FOI requests submitted in the period specified, along with the appropriate documentation or other verifiable evidence in support.
- Adherence to the FOI Act procedures, such as proper use of request mechanisms, submission format, etc.
Submissions for Category 2 will be evaluated based on:
- The number of media outputs published and/or broadcast during the period specified with appropriate documentation or other verifiable evidence provided in support.
Application Requirements and Process
- Interested journalists should complete an application form, attaching relevant documentation or verifiable evidence of all FOI requests made or media outputs published or broadcast during the relevant period, depending on the Category applied for.
- Documents required may include: acknowledged copies of requests or copies of requests with evidence or proof of receipt by the public institution, and response (if any), etc., for Category 1; and copies of media outputs published or broadcast during the relevant period, for Category 2.
- Submit applications via email to foi_awards@mediarightsagenda.org no later than 23.59 (WAT) on January 31, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Awards and Recognition
- The winner in each category will receive a plaque, a certificate, and a prize.
- The Awards will be presented at a public ceremony to be held in Abuja on May 28, 2026, coinciding with an event to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the FOI Act.
- The names of the winners and summaries of entries will be publicized in leading media outlets and digital platforms.
Important Dates
Call for Entries Opens: October 23, 2025
Deadline for Submission: January 31, 2026
Notification of Winners: On or before April 30, 2026
Awards Ceremony: May 28, 2026
Contact Information
For further details, enquiries, or clarifications, please contact:
Media Rights Agenda by email at: foi_awards@mediarightsagenda.org
