MRA opens entries for 2026 Goodluck Jonathan FOI Awards

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has announced the opening of entries for the Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards 2026, an annual initiative that celebrates journalists who promote transparency, accountability, and good governance through the effective use of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

The awards, named after former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who signed the FOI Act into law on May 28, 2011, aim to recognise exceptional journalists who have used or promoted the Act as a vital tool for investigative reporting and civic engagement.

According to MRA’s statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, entries are open to Nigerian journalists across print, broadcast, online, and multimedia platforms. Applicants will be considered under two categories;

Most Active User of the FOI Act: awarded to the journalist with the highest number of verifiable information requests made under the FOI Act between May 2011 and December 2025.

Most Outstanding Promoter of the FOI Act: recognising a journalist who has made notable contributions in creating awareness and advocating the effective implementation of the Act through stories, features, analyses, or public engagement.

MRA said the initiative seeks to encourage journalists to use the FOI Act as a professional tool to enhance accountability in governance, ensure citizens’ right to know, and deepen democratic participation.

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“The awards are designed to highlight journalists who not only use the FOI Act effectively but also inspire public confidence in the power of open information to strengthen democracy,” the organisation stated.

Applicants must be Nigerian citizens in active journalism practice and must not have been found guilty of professional misconduct by any regulatory or judicial authority.

Entries are to be submitted with verifiable documentation, such as acknowledged FOI requests or published works, depending on the category. The submission deadline is January 31, 2026.

Winners in each category will receive a plaque, certificate, and a cash prize at a public ceremony scheduled for May 28, 2026, in Abuja — coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the FOI Act.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.