NMMA Issues Invitation for Submissions for 2025

The Nigeria Media Merit Award's Board of Trustees has officially launched its 2026 call for entries, extending an invitation to journalists and media organisations nationwide to submit their most outstanding work published or broadcast in 2025.

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This annual programme has been described by the organisers as "Africa's foremost media excellence platform", underscoring their ongoing dedication to acknowledging professionalism, credibility, and exceptional journalistic standards.

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The organisers have reaffirmed their commitment to recognising excellence and bolstering professionalism across the media landscape, while also aiming to encourage impactful storytelling that serves the greater good.

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The call for entries is open to media practitioners across various platforms, including print, broadcast, and digital media, encompassing radio and television journalists, editors, photographers, and columnists.

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Institutions are also allowed to submit entries on behalf of journalists whose work meets the eligibility criteria, and members of the public can nominate broadcast entries through approved channels.

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According to the organisers, submissions must be original works produced within the 2025 calendar year, with only authentic and verifiable works being considered for the awards.

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The organisers have stated that they will not accept entries that fail to meet the stipulated guidelines, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the rules.

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A diverse range of categories has been established for consideration, covering reporting in areas such as politics, business, education, health, environment, oil and gas, agriculture, human rights, and defence.

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Special awards will also be presented to acknowledge excellence among editors, columnists, broadcasters, photographers, and media organisations, recognising their outstanding contributions to the field.

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The NMMA has stressed the need for strict compliance with submission requirements, noting that each entry must be accompanied by supporting documentation, including original copies of the work, curriculum vitae, and relevant identification materials.

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For electronic submissions, applicants are expected to provide properly labelled flash drive entries, with each submission clearly separated to facilitate the evaluation process.

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The organisers have warned that failure to comply with technical guidelines will result in automatic disqualification, emphasizing that entries not meeting the required format will not be considered.

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Winners of the awards will receive the prestigious "Golden Gong of Excellence", alongside certificates and cash prizes, marking a significant recognition of their journalistic merit.

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The "Golden Gong" remains a symbol of distinction for those who have demonstrated outstanding journalistic merit, according to the organisers.

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The call for entries will close at the end of May 2026, with all submissions to be delivered to the NMMA secretariat for evaluation and consideration.

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The PUNCH reaffirmed its position as a leading media outlet at the 33rd Nigeria Media Merit Award, winning top honours including Newspaper of the Year, Editor of the Year, and Editorial Writing of the Year.

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At the awards ceremony, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, PUNCH dominated across 27 categories, with the highest number of nominations, 42, and winning 20 of them, the highest number recorded in 2025.