Newswatch Times Art Editor, Ada Dike wins Award

Online Art collector/Gallery (Artkora), Mr. Haib Moukarim; Art Editor, Newswatch Times, Ada Dike, and Chairman, SNA Lagos State Chapter,  Dotun Alabi, during the 2014 induction awards and Gala Night of SNA Lagos State Chapter, held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos...at the weekend. Photo: Abiodun Omotosho

Ada Dalyn Dike of Newswatch Times Newspapers has been awarded Press Award 2014 by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Lagos State Chapter.

This was in recognition of her excellent reporting on the visual Arts, coupled with her zeal towards the development of art in Nigeria.

 Speaking during the Gala Night and Fund Raising Dinner Award / Induction ceremony held last week Friday, December 19, 2014, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Isalnd, Lagos, the Chairman, SNA, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Dotun Alabi said, “we are celebrating some reporters and artists, who have contributed immensely and distinguished themselves in the field of art including some art centres that have hosted artists and art works.

According to him, the award was in honour of individuals’ concrete efforts and spectacular impacts they have made towards the advancement and promotion of art and culture in Nigeria and beyond.

He urged other art reporters in media organizations in Nigerians to emulate Dike towards promoting art in Nigeria through factual and objective reportage.

Expressing appreciation for the award, the recipient, Ada Dalyn Dike, said the award came as a token of encouragement for her as a reporter to do more towards promotion of Nigerian and African art.

According to her, “I am profoundly honoured by this award. To me, the award symbolizes an encouragement for me to do more to ensure that through me, people get to read and know more about Nigeria’s rich, aesthetic paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and dance-steps, among others, which have helped in a lot of ways in developing Nigeria,” she said.

She hinted that her passion to report people, events and issues on the creative industry (visual art, literary works and film), cannot be quantified due to the industry’s works which have enriched people’s lives in Nigeria and have continued to enrich people’s lives within and outside Nigeria by providing employment opportunities for millions of Nigeria, boosting Nigerian economy and promoting Nigerian and African rich culture.

“Art is something that I always love to report before any other sector, despite the fact that many people shy away from it because they feel it is quite challenging. I feel excited whenever I listen to some artists interpret their works. It helps me to learn more about Nigerian culture. Also, the literary art opens one’s mind and intellect when reading and reviewing books, novels –fiction, non-fiction from different authors. Also worthy of note are the films/documentaries produced by the Nigerian movie industry also known as Nollywood, which have immensely promoted Nigeria’s positive image to the world,” she said.

Two other reporters that also received awards were Tony Okuyeme of New Telegraph Newspapers and a reporter from The Nation Newspapers.

Many art producers (painters, sculptors and printers), curators, conservators, curators, members of the academia and institutions were also honoured with various categories of awards for their contributions to the growth and development of the visual arts in Nigeria.

But Veteran artists such as Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Grillo, Bisi Fakeye, Abayomi Barber, Kolade Oshinowo and Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye were awarded with lifetime achievement awards. A Post Humous award went to a veteran documentary photographer, the late Pa J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere.

Other highlights that featured in the event are performance by a cultural music group and induction of new members into the society.

Meanwhile, on June 1, 2013, the Royal Star Entertainment Production (ROSEP), in celebration of the World Culture Day, honoured Ada Dalyn Dike for promoting culture in Nigeria and carrying out outstanding performances towards promotion of Nigerian and African culture.

Born in early 1970s into a family of seven children (two males and five females) to the late Hon. Chief Dike Ukara Dike (a teacher and politician) and mother, Chief Mrs. Margaret Dike (a business woman), both indigenes of Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Ada Dalyn Dike is a mother of a female child.

She has a Diploma, Bachelor of Art and Master of Science Degrees in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos in 1996, 2002 and 2005 respectively.

Dike did her media attachment in Champion newspaper in 2002 and began her career in journalism in 2006, when she was employed as a reporter in National Mirror newspaper.

She has worked in many other newspaper organizations including  Daily Times Nigeria plc, New Star and The Moment newspaper, where she worked as the Society, Entertainment and Style Editor till 2012 when she joined Daily Newswatch newspapers (Now Newswatch Times), where she is presently working as the Arts Editor.

She is a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalism (NUJ), the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Journalists For Christ (JFC) and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), among others.

She has been interviewed by both print and electronic media on topical issues bothering society, art, fashion and entertainment. She has also appeared as a guest in TV programmes including Ladies Love Gisting. She has also participated in many awards fashion shows as a judge.