Premium Times reporter wins 2026 Solution Journalism Award

Chinagorom Ugwu, an investigative journalist with PREMIUM TIMES, has won the 2026 Solution Journalism Award at the Active Citizens Awards ceremony. The award, organized by BudgIT and CivicHive, recognized Ugwu for his impactful reporting that exposed a certificate forgery scandal.

Ugwu's investigation revealed that the then Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, had allegedly forged a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and a National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate. These forged documents were submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.

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Yesterday, I emerged as the winner of the 2026 Solution Journalism Award at the Active Citizens Awards Ceremony at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

Both the university and NYSC authorities confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the certificates presented by the minister did not originate from them. Following the publication of the investigation, which included Nnaji's confession that the university did not issue the presented degree, the minister resigned. He was later charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with six counts bordering on certificate forgery.

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While I value this award because it is a testament to my great journalistic work, I feel even more excited about the impact that came with the investigation.