Six Nigerians emerge finalists for West African journalism award

SIX Nigerians from various media organisations have emerged finalists for the 2019 edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Awards (WAMECA).

According to information available on the official website of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the organisers of 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.

The six Nigerians shortlisted for the award, include ‘Kunle Adebajo ─ International Centre for Investigative Reporter (ICIR); Odinaka Anudu ─ Business Day; Aneta Chineye ─ TV360; Cletus Ukpong ─ Premium Times; Tobore Ovuorie ─ The Nation Newspaper and Tunde Ajaja ─ Punch Newspaper.

ALSO READ: Three Nigerians, others shortlisted for 2019 Young Journalist Award

Other finalists for the award include eight awardees from Ghana, four from Burkina Faso and one from Senegal, Cote D’ Ivoire and Liberia respectively.

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.

Chairperson of the Information Regulator of South Africa, Pansy Tlakula, has been selected as Guest of Honour for the 2019 edition.