Okobaba Destitute Camp: Olufunke Fayemi Clinches Runner-Up Spot in Radio Category at WSAIR 2024

Olufunke Fayemi, a talented journalist, has been recognized for her outstanding work in investigative reporting, earning the runner-up position in the radio category at the prestigious 2024 Wole Soyinka Awards for Investigative Reporting.

She makes her journey back with a follow-up on a report she began 6 years ago in Okobaba in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Nigeria.

But why go back to the destitute camp? We wondered. What inspired her to delve into a story on the exploitation of disability in young children or wards by their parents or guardians? We at LightRay!, caught up with her in this follow-up interview.

What made you want to tell this story?
I noticed a particular trend in the ways girls are being made to assist their parents living with a sort of disability to beg on the streets. So, in 2017, during my Female Reporters Leadership programme fellowship, FRLP, of Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism, my project was on a story titled- Life of Girls in Destitute Camp, Okobaba. Embarking on this story opened my eyes to how inequality is the order of the day for the girls living in the camp. The environment is filthy, the rooms are chocked up, schooling was luxury for the girls, their menstrual hygiene nothing to write home about and they are given into marriage an early age. This is happening in a mega city as Lagos and calls for attention as no child should be left behind. Interestingly, the story was part of what won me the overall best of the maiden edition of the FRLP fellowship in 2017. Sis years after, when I had the opportunity again to be part of Inequality Reporting of the African Center for Development Journalism ACDJ, I looked at how things are compared to the first story I did on it.

Why did it matter?
Inequality is a deep issue in the society that affects all, but with special effects on the female gender. I produce a 15-minute programme entitled Women and Development on Voice of Nigeria. This production is a follow-up to the way the girls living in the Oko-baba Destitute Camp Ebute-Metta lives. Still same way Six years ago, when I paid the visit to understand the livelihood of girls living in the community, till now, the challenges still resides with the occupants of the destitute camp. Findings remain same, education and health are huge gaps that affects young females in the camp. This accommodation was built over 30 years ago by the then Lagos state governor, Rtd. General Buba Marwa, Okobaba Destitute Camp was meant to accommodate about 300 beggars on some streets of Ebute-meta, Lagos state, South west Nigeria, however, over 10, 000 destitute co-habits in the camp. You can imagine all sorts of activities on-going in the camp. The Girl Child Act in Nigeria, Sec 21 and Sec 22 of the Child’s Right Act of Nigeria 2003 (CRA) prohibits the marriage of a girl child or support any such act by an individual. It further provides for punishment on anyone involved in its promotion. How can girls in this camp have a feel of this Act? With an estimated population over ten thousand in the destitute camp, there are 12 blocks, each with 22 dilapidated rooms. The occupants in each room are between 5-10 people in a space for meant for maximum of 4. With this, some still sleep on the walkways. The girls living in the Oko-baba Destitute Camp needs interventions in the inequality experienced in the community. They are groomed to be beggars as their parents, and this negates the SDG 5.

What was the impact like?
The impact felt is not as impactful as should be, but there is room for much to be done. This destitute camp falls under Lagos Mainland Local Government and this has drawn attention to the place again with hopes of a better design of engaging the girls for a productive future. Though, the refuse dump inside the camp is being packed as and when due unlike before, but more needs to be done in terms of living conditions, skill acquisition and formal education for the girls. You see, you cannot give what you do not have, hence, the parents do not really understand what pushing their daughters out for learning means. Also, poverty at times locks the mind and makes some to be complacent with what life has thrown at them.

What does winning this award mean to you?
This recognition as Runner-Up in Radio Category at the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, WSAIR, is a jinx breaker for me. This is my first time of getting this far in this form of reporting. I feel so elated that I am been rewarded for doing good accountability journalism especially in audio for. Radio category is one of the toughest as observed over the years. Interestingly, I got the highest position this year as there was not a winner in Radio Category. This is to show how high the standards are in WSAIR without any compromise. I appreciate the judges headed by Mrs. Stella Din-Jacobs of TV New for a diligently job well done. To the organizers, Mrs. Motunrayo Alaka, CEO, WSCIJ and her team, I appreciate you for your unwavering support for journalism to be at best practices in Nigeria and for putting smiles on faces of dedicated, Committed, and passionate journalists who despite all odds keep holding accountability as their watchword. And to my primary constituency, the platform on which I thrive, Voice of Nigeria, thank you!

When it comes to telling investigative stories with impact, what are important steps you will give to a mentee?

The first thing is to be interested in this form of reporting. It is intellectually draining, it is time consuming, and it is financially tasking.

You must have at least someone you look up to for right directions as an investigative journalist. This person must have a track record in areas that will improve your story and guide you on doing the job professionally so as not to run into troubles.

Any story you want to work on must be well identified and captured and well research into before writing on it. You must be tactical and be physically, emotionally, and spiritually ready for the findings before you embark on it.

For radio, since audio gives credibility, all sounds as you embark on material gathering are important, as you do not know which will drive your story better while scripting and editing.

Also, all sides to the story must be interviewed for balance, as well as getting government side or stakeholders identified to give credence to your story. Do not embellish, add, or remove findings from your source.

Be a creative writer that can weave the stories together. Actualities are drivers to holding attention, kindly add to your stories.

In all, do good editing for time and pungent thoughts of your interviewees. It holds the attention of your listeners.

Remember, quotes, proverbs and relevant songs helps in telling great stories.