Editor-in-Chief of EnviroNews, Michael Simire, was one of the three journalists celebrated at the second edition of the Nigerian Climate Justice Media Award in Abuja on Friday, September 26, 2025.
The award ceremony was organised by the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSIEP), Oxfam and the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ).
Mr. Simire emerged the First Runner Up and went home with a N350,000 cash prize and a plaque.
Abdulkareem Mojeed of Premium Times emerged as Second Runner Up with a N250,000 cash prize and a plaque.
The Winner, Charles Monday of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), went home with a N500,000 cash prize and a plaque.
Before the winners emerged, the award organisers listed 10 nominees to include Nkoli Omodu of the African Independent Television (AIT), Anthony Momodu of Arise TV News, Amaechi Onyeama of the Authority Newspaper and Patrick Oluwaseun of Channels Television.
Others are Michael Simire of EnviroNews, Abigail Joshua of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Charles Monday of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Joy Onyekwere of Peoples FM and Abdulkareem Mojeed of Premium Times.
Each of the nominees went home with a N100,000 cash prize and a certificate.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of GIFSIEP, Michael David, said the award recognises the journalists’ reporting on climate issues and how it affects people.
In his welcome address, the Director of Oxfam Nigeria, John Makina, said climate change is one of the pressing issues of our time and requires all stakeholders to come together to address it.
Mr. Makina said misinformation about climate issues has taken centre stage in climate conversations.
He expressed worries that prominent figures with large followings who do not believe in climate change have continued to spread false information about climate change.
He emphasised the role of the media in disseminating information on the impact of climate change.
He called on journalists to ask the difficult questions about climate change to different stakeholders, particularly policymakers.
“Issues around climate change have consequences that affect the plant and its inhabitants. It is important that the media is involved in this matter,” he said.
“This will help educate the public about the science of climate change and how to address those issues.”