Modestus, Okonta Win 2026 Outstanding Pension Journalists Awards

By LOVETH-AZODO CHIJIOKE, Lagos.

Modestus Anaesoronye of BusinessDay and Chuks Udo Okonta, publisher of Inspenonline, have emerged winners in the print and online categories of the 2026 Outstanding Pension Journalists Awards organised by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Ini John-Mekwa of Channels Television won the broadcast category, with each of the three winners receiving a cash prize of N1 million.

The awards were presented yesterday at the 2026 PenCom Media Conference in Ikeja, Lagos, as part of the commission’s efforts to recognise and reward excellence in pension journalism.

Presenting the awards, the Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, commended the winners for their contributions to reporting developments in the pension industry and urged journalists to sustain efforts to educate Nigerians on pension matters.

She stressed the importance of communicating pension policies and the commission’s activities in simple, accessible language to improve public understanding and awareness.

“We acknowledge your good works and we want to appreciate you. We urge you to keep doing your best. PenCom and its activities need to be communicated to Nigerians in a very simple and understanding manner. So, I congratulate you all. Let all journalists be intentional in their works,” she said.

In the online category, Okonta emerged winner ahead of Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor of BusinessToday NG and Zaka Khaliq of BusinessDiary.

Anaesoronye won the print category, beating Ebere Nwoji of THISDAY and Victor Ahiuma-Young of Vanguard.

In the broadcast category, John-Mekwa emerged winner, with Ebere Obike of Radio Nigeria and Kola Abel of Eko Radio/Eko FM also listed among the nominees.

The award recipients expressed appreciation to PenCom and their colleagues for recognising their work, pledging to sustain and improve their coverage of the pension industry.

PenCom said the awards would become an annual event as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, aimed at encouraging quality journalism and raising public awareness of pension issues.