Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ)

Happy Workers’ Day to all workers. Your contributions across every sector are the driving force behind our collective growth as a nation. To journalists specifically: your role is truly the heartbeat of a functioning society. Whether you are navigating the complexities of investigative reporting or ensuring the public remains informed in real-time, your work requires a level of courage and resilience that goes far beyond a standard 9-to-5. Your commitment ensures that our story as a nation is told accurately and with integrity. Happy Workers’ Day! #WorkersDay #PressFreedom #WSCIJ #TruthDefenders #MayDay2026

In the pursuit of academic excellence, many women face a hurdle that isn't found in textbooks: the complex balancing act of motherhood and higher education. This story revealed the challenges of student-mothers at Lagos State University (#LASU), who were navigating a path filled with physical exhaustion, financial strain, and the emotional weight of being "doing the right thing at the wrong time." This human-angle story, supported by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), highlighted the urgent need for structural inclusion in Nigerian universities. The report brings to light the lived experiences of women who are often invisible in academic planning. While international institutions offer childcare bursaries and on-campus nurseries, many Nigerian students are left to rely on sheer grit. WSCIJ is proud to support campus journalists who shine a light on these systemic gaps. This story was done by Elsie Udo and Temilade Adegboyegun, Lagos State University campus journalists and 2024 campus Journalism fellows, with the support of WSCIJ. Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/3p3bksms #WSCIJ #StudentMothers #LASU #InclusiveEducation #HumanInterest #InvestigativeJournalism #GenderEquity

By focusing on the human angle, we see the real-world consequences of administrative delays and institutional gaps. In a compelling report supported by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in 2024, the spotlight turns to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria and a bureaucratic glitch with devastating consequences. Despite paying fees for identification, many students, particularly freshmen, were left without official Identity cards. The investigation revealed that students faced rejection at exam halls because make-shift paper IDs were deemed insufficient by certain departments. At #WSCIJ, we believe that every student's struggle deserves to be heard. We are committed to supporting journalists who dig deep into the issues affecting the everyday Nigerian. By amplifying these human-angle stories, we hold institutions accountable and advocate for a system where no student’s future is jeopardised by administrative delays. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/expQm8Fj #WSCIJ #HumanAngle #WSCIJstories #InvestigativeJournalism #FreetoShare

With about 18 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, stories on education don’t just tell us the human-interest angle; they also warn us about Nigeria's future. We are revisiting a powerful special report from Okpokwu LGA, Benue State, where the promise of a basic education has become a distant memory for thousands of children. This report by Abah Adah exposes the quiet death of public primary education. In a local government with 81 public schools, many have become little more than "abandoned sites." Imagine a school built for hundreds of pupils, now managed by just two teachers for eight different classes. When a school dies, a community loses its anchor. The shortage of teachers, the years of unpaid salaries, and the crumbling infrastructure are not just administrative failures; they are a theft of the future from Benue’s most vulnerable children. This report was facilitated by the Africa Centre for Development Journalism (#ACDJ) as part of its 2024 Inequalities Reporting Fellowship, supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ). At WSCIJ, our goal is to utilise the power of investigative reporting to hold power to account. We remain committed to shedding light on these systemic inequalities, ensuring that every Nigerian child's right to education is not just a policy on paper but a reality in every classroom. Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/5rxfmyvd #HumanInterest #WSCIJ #EducationCrisis #WSCIJstories #PublicEducation #AccountabilityReporting #Nigeria #SocialJustice #FreetoShare #InequalityReporting

Beyond the headlines and the statistics, there is a heartbeat. 💓 At WSCIJ, we have always believed that the most powerful investigative journalism doesn't just find a smoking gun; it finds the human being affected by the policy failure. For nearly two decades, we haven’t just rewarded reports; we have honoured impact. 🏆 A profound example of this is the story of Northern Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis. It isn't just a food shortage; it is a devastating cycle of "empty plates and bleak futures." This investigative piece takes us into the homes where families are watching their children waste away due to a combination of insecurity, soaring inflation, and a crumbling healthcare system. It’s a human-angle narrative that turns a regional crisis into an urgent call for accountability. At the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, we celebrate stories like this—the ones that turn facts into feeling and feeling into reform. Because accountability isn’t about numbers; it’s about people. Read the full, impactful investigation here: 👉https://lnkd.in/eeyPA49H #WSCIJ #InvestigativeJournalism #HumanInterest #Accountability #ImpactReporting #Nigeria #ReportUntilSomethingHappens

At #WSCIJ, we believe that the true measure of investigative journalism is its ability to find the "forgotten" and bring them into the light. When a crisis becomes invisible, it is the journalist’s duty to become a witness. Through our awards, we honour those who refuse to let distance or danger silence the stories of their fellow citizens. A moving example of this is Isah Ismaila's commendable work. His investigation, “Lost Homes, No Aid,” journeys into the heart of the Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State, a region where thousands have been uprooted by terror, only to find themselves abandoned by the systems meant to protect them. By focusing on the human faces within the Kuta IDP camp, Ismaila transformed a "regional issue" into a heartbreaking narrative of systemic neglect and lost community. At #WSCIJ, we champion this human-centered approach because accountability is impossible as long as the victims remain invisible. Read the full, vital report on the displaced communities of North Central Nigeria: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eB2DKTij 📸 Photo Credit: HumAngle Media / Isah Ismaila #WSCIJ #InvestigativeReporting #HumanitarianCrisis #NorthCentral #IDPs #Accountability #HumanInterest #ReportUntilSomethingHappens #HumAngle

Through the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (#CMEDIA) project, we are committed to amplifying stories that hold a mirror to society's deepest inequalities. Investigative journalism at its best doesn’t just cite statutes; it reveals how those statutes succeed or fail the people they were meant to protect. In this poignant report, Abubakar Abdulrasheed explores the harrowing reality for Nigerians living with Cerebral Palsy. Despite existing legal frameworks, many still face a daily battle against rejection and deep-seated stigmatization. By centering the lived experiences of these individuals, this story moves us beyond legal jargon and into the urgent need for empathy, agency, and systemic change. At WSCIJ, we believe that accountability journalism is the most powerful tool for inclusion. We report the struggle to ensure no voice is left behind. Read the full investigation into the reality of Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria: 👉https://lnkd.in/eMrFMPbr This report was facilitated by the @Africa Centre for Development Journalism (ACDJ), as part of the 2024 Inequalities Reporting Fellowship, supported by the MacArthur Foundation through #WSCIJ. #WSCIJ #CMEDIA #InclusionMatters #CerebralPalsy #HumanInterest #Accountability #SocialChange #Nigeria

Last Friday, we joined our partner, Netherlands in Nigeria, to celebrate 2026 King’s Day, a moment that went beyond the cultural festivities in honour of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, reflecting the strength of the relationship between Nigeria and the Netherlands. A highlight of the evening was when Motunrayo Famuyiwa Alaka, our Executive Director/CEO, presented a souvenir to Michel Deelen, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in appreciation of his unwavering support for WSCIJ’s mission. As he prepares to take on his new role as Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia, we celebrate the "strong and growing" relationship he has helped foster across governance, innovation and accountability. Partnerships like these are the bedrock of our work in advancing transparency and sustainable development through investigative journalism. #WSCIJ #KingsDay2026 #Diplomacy #Accountability #NigeriaNetherlands #InvestigativeJournalism

Journalists, editors and thought leaders gathered last week as Shola Oshunkeye, veteran journalist and President/CEO of The Crest Online, marked his 70th birthday, a fitting celebration of a career defined by courage, conviction, and human-centred reporting. Motunrayo Famuyiwa Alaka, Executive Director/CEO, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), joined colleagues across the media space to honour a professional whose work has consistently shaped public discourse and strengthened the practice of journalism. True to our culture of celebrating excellence in journalism, just as we did recently for Biodun Jeyifo and others, this gathering reflected the importance of recognising those whose work continues to shape public discourse and strengthen the profession. The event was more than a celebration of age; it was a reflection on legacy. Through rich conversations on the future of journalism, participants engaged with what it means to build a byline rooted in truth, accountability, and public service. At the #WSCIJ, we are proud to have been part of this moment. Moments like this remind us that journalism is not only about reporting the present, but also about honouring those whose work continues to shape the future. Read the full story on our website: bit.ly/3R43KUd

We are incredibly proud of the students who joined us over the last two days for an intensive journey into the heart of investigative journalism. Your curiosity, passion, and commitment to the truth have shown us that the future of the media is in capable hands. A huge thank you to our participating partner institutions for their collaboration in bridging the gap between the classroom and the field. To the students: We believe in your voice. We are excited to see the impactful stories you will uncover, the corruption you will expose, and the truth you will tell. This is just the beginning of your journey toward excellence and integrity. Congratulations to the newest cohort of Pro-Engage! 👏✨ #ProEngage #WSCIJ #InvestigativeJournalism #FreetoShare #JournalismEducation #ImpactStories