Business Express, Nigeria’s Authoritative Voice on Business and the Economy, has been nominated for an award at this year’s edition of the prestigious Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA).

A statement published on the NMMA official website, www.nma-ng.com, shows that Business Express is nominated for the FIRST BANK PRIZE FOR BUSINESS PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR alongside Business Day newspaper and Business Eye magazine. The award ceremony which is the 22nd edition comes up Friday, October 31, to Sunday, November 2, 2014 in Owerri, the Imo State capital. NMMA is Nigeria’s oldest and most respected journalism award.

Business Express, a sister publication of News Express, Nigeria’s fastest growing online news daily, has a target audience that comprises decision makers in Business, the Economy and Politics. Published every two months, the all-gloss Business Express is known for cerebral coverage of Banking & Finance, Education, Management & Strategy, Brands & Promos, as well as Reality Shows.

Business Express debuted online in March 2011, with the print edition entering the market three months later, precisely on Monday, June 20, 2011. The magazine is available throughout Nigeria via direct supply, subscription and at selected newsstands. It can also be read worldwide online at www.businessexpressng.com

Business Express parades a team of accomplished journalists and columnists led by award-winning international journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna. A seasoned and versatile journalist, Umunna has been honoured both at home and abroad. He was recognised as “a leading Nigerian political journalist” by The International Herald Tribune newspaper of Paris, France, on May 25, 2005. Two months later, on July 4 in London, Umunna won the “Best Published Feature” category of the prestigious Diageo Africa Business Reporting Award, which is open to journalists all over the world. On February 21, 2006, he was honoured in South Africa with a Merit Award in the Technology Policy & Investment Category of the Siemens Profile Awards for Journalism Excellence in Science and Technology Reporting in Africa. Umunna had been honoured at home 10 years earlier when he was nominated Print Journalist of the Year in Nigeria and given a Certificate of Commendation by the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA), on September 26, 1996.

Commenting on the 2014 NMMA Awards, Chairman of the Panel of Assessors, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, disclosed that 1,124 entries from 774 entrants were received in the Print categories, 97 entries came in from 79 entrants in the Radio categories and 86 entries were received from 63 entrants in the Television categories.

According to Prof. Akinfeleye, “These submissions of entries reflect the confidence of the entrants on the quality of their works to meet the standard of excellence prescribed by the NMMA Trust.

“A total of 53 award categories were keenly contested for this year and after the meticulous screening exercise by members of the Panel of Assessors and it is noteworthy that for the first time in the last five years winners are declared for all the 53 NMMA award categories as they all met the prescribed benchmark of 70% total average score by all assessors in the group.”

•Photo shows Business Express Publisher Isaac Umunna.

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