Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

2023

Entry type: Portfolio

Country/area: Nigeria

Publishing organisation: Premium Times
Edutorial
International Centre for Investigative Reporting
Halal Reporters

Organisation size: Big

Cover letter:

I am Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim, a multiple award-winning journalist, creative writer, fellow of African Investigative Journalism Conference based in Gombe state, Nigeria. I am the champion of Lekan Otufodunrin Journalists Award 2021, First Runner Up, ICIR Investigative Journalism Award 2021, Winner Youths Digest Journalism Awards 2021 and Runner Up in the ICTs reporting category of the prestigious West African Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) 2021 for my expose.
Emerging from the northeast sub-region bedeviled by insurgency, deforestation, lack of good drinking water, and absence of good health care facilities, I know that developmental stories need to be told. However, the stories told about this place are those of insurgency, bleeding blood, etc. This opportunity will give me the chance to produce excellent developmental stories about the changes taking place.
Being a young journalist at 21, and a journalism major, who worked as an investigative reporter with the Centre for Innovation and Journalism Development (CIJD) formerly Premium Times Centre For Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) covering majorly health and water issues, if selected for this fellowship , it will help me in advancing my development journalism to the next level thus achieving my career’s goals.
My hardwork has earned me accolades from outside and within Nigeria. I became the youngest runner-up of the prestigious West African Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) 2021 at 20 years old since its inception. I was also shortlisted for the Climate Tracker’s COP26 Fellowship and 2022 Africa solutions journalism fellowship. This will assure you of my ability to take the task.Taking into consideration of my experience in investigative journalism, if selected for this opportunity, I will support African Union in achieving Agenda 2063 with my reportage right from community level.
I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

Description of portfolio:

Below is the link to my stories.

Investigation: How Nigerian states government poorly interacted with citizens via email, despite ICT advancement

The series reports addressed a critical issue of public interest. It looks at how the Nigerian government, in the face of the global pandemic, interacted poorly with citizens electronically despite numerous announcements and publications that the government has put in place to address people’s concerns and inquiries during the pandemic. The story’s depth exposes governments at all levels continuous lack of understanding of the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in ordinary citizens’ day-to-day lives.
The story, to my surprise, has started making an impact. After the report, Borno and Cross River states websites came alive. See the link below for more information. This has further demonstrated that investigative journalism is done for the public good and not journalists’ good.