By Peter Omopo
The Nigeria Merit Media Awards (NMMA) has announced the commencement of entries for its 2025 edition, inviting applications from journalists across print, radio, and television.
In a statement made available to The PUNCH, the organisers said the prestigious awards, which have celebrated excellence in Nigerian journalism for more than three decades, will honour works published or broadcast in 2024.
Winners in each category will receive the Golden Gong of Excellence trophy, alongside a certificate and prize money.
The NMMA outlined detailed assessment criteria, including factual accuracy, originality, clarity, balance, creativity, and human interest for print media entries. For electronic media, works will be judged on subject knowledge, depth, appeal, presentation, technical execution, and adherence to the National Broadcasting Commission code.
Applicants must submit original copies of their 2024 works with four photocopies, a curriculum vitae, and two passport photographs. Each entry should be clearly marked “NMMA 2024 ENTRY” and indicate the relevant category. A maximum of two entries is permitted per category, and the same work cannot be submitted in multiple categories.
For special categories, Columnist of the Year applicants must present four articles from each quarter of 2024, while News Photographer of the Year submissions require published photographs with full details of the photographer and publication. Broadcast category entries must be submitted in five copies of the recordings.
Entries may be submitted by authors, their employers, institutions, organisations, or individuals with the author’s consent. The Broadcast Station of the Year category allows for public nominations through NBC zonal offices in Abuja, Kano, Benin City, Umuahia, Ikeja, Maiduguri, and Jos.
The organisers warned that improperly filed entries or those received after the September 8, 2025 deadline will be disqualified. All submitted works become the property of NMMA, although copyright protections remain for electronic entries.
Since its inception, the NMMA has served as one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for recognising outstanding contributions to journalism.
