Two PREMIUM TIMES’ newshounds who labored on a collaborative investigation that unravelled lead poisoning linked to battery recycling in Nigeria were named a few of the 3 finalists for the 2026 African Investigative Journalist of the Year Awards.
The investigation used to be led by way of the editor of the Trade and Financial system table of PREMIUM TIMES, Oladeinde Olawoyin, and an award-winning investigative reporter, Folashade Ogunrinde.
The Wits Centre for Journalism, supported by way of Absa Africa, is establishing the award in its fourth 12 months to recognise remarkable investigative reporting throughout Africa that finds untold tales, holds the tough to account, questions the ones in public existence, and serves the general public pastime.
The 2026 African Investigative Journalism Convention (AIJC), the place the winner and runners-up might be introduced at a gala rite on St Martin’s Day, is scheduled to be held from 10 to twelve November on the Edge Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
This 12 months’s version attracted over 200 entries around the continent, and the standard of investigative reporting made it difficult for the judges to choose finalists.
“Judging those awards isn’t a very easy procedure as there’s such a lot treasured investigative journalism going down on our continent now,” mentioned the convenor of judges, Gwen Lister.
He famous that judges needed to assess the investigative paintings of shortlisted finalists in opposition to strict standards, sparking colourful debates and in-depth discussions at the deserves and affect of the submissions.
“As judges, all of us hope that striving for the celebrated name of African Investigative Journalist of the 12 months will spur on newshounds around the continent to even higher heights,” Mr Lister added.
Dinesh Balliah, the director of the Wits Centre for Journalism, mentioned the award reaffirmed journalism’s function in preserving energy to account within the context of a loss of assets, ongoing threats of violence and loss of life and incorrect information/disinformation.
“I want lets recognise each and every some of the entrants thru those awards, however it’s not possible. The highest 3, even though, constitute all of those implausible newshounds and their impactful paintings,” Mr Balliah mentioned.
Daniel Munslow, managing govt of staff communications at Absa Team, mentioned the organisation recognises the important function investigative journalism performs in strengthening transparency, responsibility and public believe, which is why it celebrates one of the most continent’s best journalistic ability and the vital paintings they do in bringing necessary problems to gentle.
“The 2026 Absa African Investigative Journalist of the 12 months Award celebrates one of the most continent’s best journalistic ability and the vital paintings they do in bringing necessary problems to gentle.
“We’re proud to beef up a platform that champions excellence in journalism and contributes to development extra knowledgeable, resilient and filthy rich societies throughout Africa,” Mr Munslow said.
The access
From a longlist of 5, PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation, ‘Lead In Their Blood / Deficient Oversight, Regulatory Failure Divulge Nigerians to Gradual Dying from Battery Recycling’, by way of Mr Olawoyin and Ms Ogunrinde of PREMIUM TIMES with The Exam, Nigeria, used to be shortlisted along two different investigative studies.
They’re ‘Your Eyes, Their Information’ by way of Naipanoi Lepapa, Kenya, in collaboration with Julia Lindblom of Göteborgs-Posten and Ahmed Abdigadir of Svenska Dagbladet, and ‘9 Lives: King Cat and His Soft Empire’ by way of Jeff Wicks of News24, South Africa.
The investigation tested the well being and environmental penalties of lead-acid battery recycling in portions of Africa, with PREMIUM TIMES reporting widely from Ogijo, a group in Ogun State the place a number of battery recycling factories perform.
The document discovered that citizens and staff across the factories have been uncovered to bad ranges of lead air pollution.
To supply clinical proof for the investigation, the venture commissioned unbiased blood lead trying out for 70 citizens, in conjunction with soil and air high quality sampling round battery recycling vegetation in Ogun State.
Of the 70 individuals who volunteered for blood assessments, seven out of each and every 10 recorded destructive ranges of lead, consistent with the investigation. Each and every employee examined used to be additionally discovered to were poisoned.
Greater than part of the kids examined had lead ranges prime sufficient to purpose lifelong mind injury, the investigation reported.
Soil and mud samples amassed across the factories additionally confirmed intensive contamination, with some recording lead concentrations some distance above ranges in most cases considered hazardous.
The investigation estimated that greater than 20,000 folks lived inside of a mile of the factories.
PREMIUM TIMES printed its Nigerian investigation in two portions. The primary document, “Lead In Their Blood: How Battery Recyclers Are Poisoning Nigerians,” documented the well being dangers confronted by way of citizens and staff in Ogijo.
The second one, “Deficient Oversight, Regulatory Failure Exposes Nigerians to Gradual Dying from Battery Recycling,” tested disasters by way of regulatory government and the prerequisites that allowed the hazardous operations to proceed.
The investigation additionally tested the global provide chain, tracing Nigeria’s recycled result in in a foreign country consumers and the worldwide car trade.
The wider venture discovered that recycled lead from Nigerian factories entered global provide chains used to supply automotive batteries.
It documented how one American battery producer, East Penn Production, purchased Nigerian lead during the international buying and selling corporate Trafigura. Following the reporting, the corporate mentioned it could forestall uploading the Nigerian lead and introduce further scrutiny of its lead purchases.
Have an effect on & Recognitions
Following the e-newsletter, the Nationwide Environmental Requirements and Laws Enforcement Company close down battery recycling amenities in Ogijo over environmental considerations.
The Ogun State Executive additionally introduced measures in line with the findings, together with plans to check citizens for lead publicity, whilst the Area of Representatives known as for an investigation into lead poisoning considerations in Ogijo and demanded an emergency reaction.
The state executive and Lagos State Executive additionally started a joint investigation into the air pollution risk, whilst the Ogun executive moved to droop lead exports and close affected battery recycling vegetation.
Nigerian government later moved to near factories connected to america car trade amid the lead-poisoning investigation.
The reporting venture has since been recognised for its intensity and affect, successful PREMIUM TIMES’ standout document of 2025.
In September, it used to be named a finalist in two classes of the 2026 On-line Journalism Awards in the USA.
The venture has additionally won different global reputation, particularly in the USA.
The venture gained the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting from USC Annenberg and the John B. Oakes Award for environmental journalism.
It additionally gained the Edward R. Murrow Awards for Investigative Reporting (Huge Virtual Organisation) and Highest Video/Documentary about global affairs from the In another country Press Membership.
It gained the Scripps Howard Journalism Awards, receiving each the Have an effect on Award and the Excellence in Environmental Reporting Award.
Within the Gerald Loeb Awards, it used to be named a finalist within the Video Information class.
Mr Olawoyin, a a couple of award-winning journalist, leads a number of tasks at PREMIUM TIMES and mentors and supervises journalists.
Excluding his reporting of world financial problems throughout portions of Africa and the remainder of the sector, Mr Olawoyin’s reporting and analysis pursuits take a seat on the intersection of media framing and the affect of AI on the way forward for paintings, particularly within the casual economic system in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa, and the International South.
Ms Ogunrinde is an award-winning investigative journalist recognised for her paintings in governance, responsibility and inclusive building.
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