Nigeria's flagship newspaper, The Guardian, achieved a significant victory at the 34th Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), held in Lagos. The publication was honored with the award for the best designed media website, triumphing over competitors This Day and Business Day newspapers.
Celebrating Media Excellence
The event, which took place on the evening of 26 November 2025, recognized outstanding achievements in Nigerian journalism. In addition to the organizational win, Moyosore Salami of The Guardian also earned recognition, emerging as the second runner-up in the competitive Energy Reporting category.
A Sobering Reflection on the Nation
Lanre Idowu, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Publications and a DAME Trustee, used his keynote address to deliver a powerful and critical assessment of the current state of Nigeria. He warned the audience that "there is anger and indeed hunger in the land." Idowu pointed to a widening chasm between the wealthy and the poor, noting the desperate clamour of the underprivileged to be heard and the insufficient attention paid by those in positions of power.
He expressed deep concern that societal abnormalities are being accepted as normal. "Insecurity has virtually been institutionalised as a new reality in our country," he stated, adding that the nation's core values are being depressingly redefined before the eyes of its citizens.
A Call for Resilience and Action
Despite the grim picture, Idowu urged Nigerians not to yield to despair. He called for a collective effort to rediscover national strength and resilience. "We must make our voices heard. We must demand a change for the better in our own collective interest," he implored.
He reflected on the nominated journalistic works, describing them as "very strident voices" from the media that call attention to critical issues. These reports, he said, evoke deep thought and emotion, covering a range of unsettling topics from the stolen childhood of children in conflict zones and the scourge of child labour to the disturbing rise in out-of-school children and the poor learning conditions in many schools.
Idowu further highlighted how media reports underscore the plight of families trapped in multidimensional poverty and the challenging lack of access to quality healthcare and nutritious food. He also touched upon the nation's electoral process and the crushing images of poverty that contradict the promised dividends of democracy, emphasizing the need for a qualitative difference in all sectors for a much-needed national rebirth.
In a note of hope, he acknowledged the heroic exploits of volunteers in crisis zones, who are struggling to make a difference, particularly by stressing the importance of education. He concluded by honoring the work of journalists who act as sentinels for the public, often facing dire consequences in their duty to report social realities.
