Categories: AwardsNews

Five Nigerians win journalism awards at WAMECA 2019

Five Nigerian journalists from various media organisations have emerged winners at the 2019 edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Awards (WAMECA).

The journalists who were awarded include ‘Kunle Adebajo ─ International Centre for Investigative Reporter (ICIR); Cletus Ukpong ─ Premium Times; Tobore Ovuorie ─ The Nation Newspaper; Tunde Ajaja ─ Punch Newspaper and Destiny Onyemihia Voice of Nigeria.

While Adebajo won the WAMECA award in the telecommunications category, Ovuorie won the WAMECA award for best human rights coverage in West Africa, Ukpong won the WAMECA Award winner for best Investigative reporting, Ajaja won the award for best Business and SMEs reporting and Onyemihia,the other hand, edged other journalists to win the Continental Journalism Awards on AU Charter category.

Other winners at the event including Sama Tounwendsida Hugues Richard with L’Economiste Du Faso, Burkina Faso who won the WAMECA Award for best health reporting; Seriba Kone won award for the best anti corruption story while Nabil Ahmed Rufai of @GHOneTV for best SDG reporting in West Africa.

ALSO READ: Applications open for Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellowship in Journalism Innovation

Sama Tounwendsida Hugues Richard with L’Observeteur Paalga was awarded West Africa’s Journalist of the Year for his reporting on mental illness in Burkina Faso.

Earlier during the event, Chairperson of the Information Regulator of South Africa, Pansy Tlakula, said: “The profession of journalism is challenged, particularly with the rise of fake news and misinformation. This requires journalists to recommit themselves to the code of ethics.”

Organisers of the award, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), said the 2019 edition of WAMECA received 724 entries from fifteen countries in West Africa.

The entries were thoroughly reviewed by a five-member jury of the award and twenty-one finalists were shortlisted from six countries.

Other finalists for the award include Odinaka Anudu ─ Business Day; Aneta Chineye ─ TV360; eight others from Ghana, four from Burkina Faso and one from Senegal, Cote D’ Ivoire and Liberia respectively.

Julius Barigaba, The East African, Uganda; Wagdy Sawahel, University World News – Africa edition, Egypt; Afeez Hanafi, Punch, Nigeria; Momar Niang, Ouestaf News, Senegal and Vanessa Adie Offiong, Daily Trust, Nigeria also emerged finalists for the Continental Journalism Awards on AU Charter.

All the finalists received Certificates of Merit while the ultimate winners received plaques, certificates and cash prizes.

The Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, said the award was aimed at showcasing and honouring journalism excellence, an objective according to him aimed at improving quality and independent journalism in West Africa.

The West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards is an annual initiative of the MFWA to promote media excellence in the sub-region.

I-79 Media Consults

Recent Posts

9 media opportunities in November and beyond

If you’re planning for fellowships, awards or training programmes that can advance your media career, there are 9 media opportunities…

56 minutes ago

Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards 2026

DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2026 — The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) is accepting entries for the Dr Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of…

4 days ago

Communications and Public Relations Officer at PPDC

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31, 2025 — The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) seeks a creative, strategic and results-driven Communications and…

4 days ago

The Archivi.ng Fellowship open for applications

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31, 2025 — The Archivi.ng Fellowship, a six-month programme for storytellers, researchers and technologists working to make sense…

2 weeks ago

The Africa Report is hiring a Business Editor

The Africa Report is hiring a Business Editor to lead agenda-setting coverage of African companies, markets and deal-makers. The ideal…

2 weeks ago

Solutions Journalism Africa Summit 2025

The Solutions Journalism Africa Summit 2025, with the theme "Reframing Africa’s Narratives Through Solutions-Focused Storytelling", is open for registration. ​The…

2 weeks ago

This website uses cookies.