Yisa Usman, a former deputy director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has been named runner-up in the 2026 Ellsberg Whistleblower Award.
Usman was selected by an independent international jury as
the closest runner-up, while Andrés Olarte Peña, Colombian environmental
whistleblower, emerged as the overall winner of the award.
In a statement, the African Centre for Media and Information
Literacy (AFRICMIL) welcomed the recognition, describing it as an affirmation
of the public value of whistleblowing in Nigeria.
The organisation said Usman was nominated for the award by
the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG) on the
recommendation of AFRICMIL.
It added that Chido Onumah, PRIMORG’s coordinator, was also
among the 10 members of the award’s jury.
According to the jury, Usman’s whistleblowing exposed
systemic violations of public financial management rules and recruitment
procedures within JAMB, contributing to national conversations on corruption,
governance reforms, and whistleblower protection.
AFRICMIL said the recognition highlights the global
relevance of Usman’s disclosures and their importance to Nigeria’s pursuit of
transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity.
The organisation noted that Usman has faced dismissal from
public service, prolonged legal battles, and threats to his family,
underscoring the risks faced by whistleblowers in the absence of strong legal
protections.
AFRICMIL called on the federal government to transmit the
delayed whistleblower protection bill to the national assembly and ensure its
speedy passage into law.
Named after Daniel Ellsberg, who released the Pentagon
Papers in 1971, the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award honours individuals whose
actions advance democratic accountability and the public’s right to know.
The award, presented annually by an international jury,
carries a €10,000 prize.
AFRICMIL said Usman’s courage and commitment to public
interest reflect the values the award seeks to uphold, adding that
whistleblowers remain essential to democratic governance.
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