Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited has launched a Development News Coverage Award, a fresh initiative to honour journalists who champion stories of national development.
The award, which seeks to promote impactful storytelling around cooperative finance, agriculture and national development, aimed to reshape the media landscape towards critical development issues particularly at a time when Nigeria’s media is saturated with political discourse.
According to a statement issued by Benjamin Aduli, chief vision officer of MAIS, the inaugural edition will reward the best reportage of the Maistrade Press Conference held on July 5, 2025, at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
He noted that winners will be unveiled during the official launch of the $5 billion AssuredInvest Cooperative Trust Fund come July 19, 2025.
The AssuredInvest Cooperative Trust Fund, a $5 billion initiative by MAIS Limited, aims to revolutionise grassroots financing through cooperative structures.
The fund is designed to provide affordable loans, financial literacy training, and scalable funding models for farmers, artisans, market women, and other members of cooperative societies across Nigeria.
According to Aduli, the goal is to unlock financial inclusion for millions of underserved Nigerians and build an economy powered by everyday people.
Speaking at the recent pre-launch event, Aduli said, “Our goal is to support a financial system that reflects the real strength of our nation—its people. We are not just launching a fund; we are nurturing a movement that will empower cooperatives to drive Nigeria’s economic future.”
Aduli added that the award categories include best investigative coverage, best visual/video report, and best overall media house, with cash prizes of N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners respectively.
He said that winners will also receive award plaques at the AssuredInvest launch ceremony.
“This award is our way of saying thank you to journalists who shine a spotlight on national growth rather than just political noise,” he said.
He stressed the need for journalism that educates, informs and empowers the public toward positive change.
