BusinessDay’s investigative series “Dying in installments,” which uncovered the harmful effects of unsafe lead battery recycling in Ogun State has won the inaugural edition of the biggest prize in journalism in Switzerland, Wednesday night.
The Fetisov Journalism Award, an initiative of Gleb Fetisov, Russian billionaire, passionate about using journalism to affect social change, awarded a cash prize of 100,000CHF to the winner in each of the four categories: Outstanding Contribution to Peace, Contribution to Civil Rights, Outstanding Investigative Reporting and Excellence in Environmental Journalism.
The runners up won 20,000 CHF and 10,000 CHF, respectively.
One CHF or Swiss Franc is equivalent to 1.03 U.S dollars.
Isaac Anyaogu and Petra Sorge were supported by the non-profit SRADEV in researching for the story “Dying in installments” published by BusinessDay and Die Spiegel in Germany. Sorge, a freelance journalist in 2018 when the story was written, is now a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
Anyaogu, who studied Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria (UNN), reports energy and environment for BusinessDay, and has won several media awards. The Series “Dying in Instalments” has now won multiple media awards in Nigeria, South Africa, Germany, and Switzerland.
“From the very first day he joined Businessday, Isaac has not only been diligent but rigorous as well. For him, every story is an opportunity to bring the best in him and I am proud to have such a dynamic, talented and hardworking man in our editorial team,” BusinessDay Publisher, Frank Aigbogun said.
There were 160 entries from 50 countries accepted for the competition founded by Russian private investors, Gleb Fetisov and one of the country’s wealthiest men.
A team of respected international editors and journalism scholars led by Aiden White judged the competition assisted by a steering committee that includes PremiumTimes co-founder, Muskilu Mojeed.
According to Fetisov, the mission of Fetisov Journalism Awards is to promote universal human values such as honesty, justice, courage, and nobility through the example of outstanding journalists from all over the world as their dedicated service and commitment contribute to changing the world for the better.
Its objective is the promotion of contemporary journalism as a unique profession that contributes to transforming the lives of individuals, communities and the world as a whole.
“This is a testament to the powerful and credible medium that BusinessDay is today,” said Patrick Atuanya, Editor, BusinessDay.
“Beyond the recognition is the impact that our journalism is making, and this flows directly into other aspects of our business, including conferences, digital and our research work,” Atuanya said.
Since the publication of the series, Everest Metal Limited investigated environmental pollution has begun to turn away from unsafe recycling.
According to Vikas Das, the company’s managing director, it has spent over $150,000 in remediation efforts in Ipetoro, Sagamu, Ogun State, where its factory was located.
It has built an effluent treatment plan to collect and process wastewater previously dumped into the community, it provided free medical services for the affected community and embarked on various CSR projects, including grading roads, drilling borehole and providing electricity, buying the community transformers and helping to connect them to the national grid.
Spurred by revelations in the articles, European countries have banned the export of recycled lead from Nigeria and right now global operators have drafted international guidelines that will guide safer recycling.
“It gives me great pleasure to accept this award on behalf of the wonderful team that worked on it. This validates my long-held belief that good journalism not only brings rewards but can be a catalyst for social good,” Isaac Anyaogu, BusinessDay’s analyst, said.
On Monday 4, major global industry associations in the field of lead-acid batteries publicly committed to new rules for all its members.
“While this has been done by some companies before, this now means that all members of the four associations have to impose related company policies. Thus, none of the big players in the lead and battery business should buy any lead, scrap or waste batteries without checking on the conduct of their business partners first.
“If this is implemented properly, dirty recyclers will only be able to sell to off-takers not organised in any of the four associations,” says Andreas Manhart, an expert on lead-acid battery recycling, from the German environmental think-tank, the Oeko institute.
ISAAC ANYAOGU
