PUNCH journalists nominated for African media awards

Two PUNCH journalists, Olugbon Saheed and Segun Odunayo, have been nominated for the 2024 Journalists of the Year Award by the Africa Media Development Foundation.

They are shortlisted for the photo and print categories, respectively.

They are among the 11 finalists that made the list.

The AMDF award which recognises outstanding journalism that has made a significant impact on development issues across Africa, covers various media categories — photo, print, online, television and radio journalism, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Executive Director, AMDF, Sekyen Dadik.

“The finalists, chosen from a highly competitive pool of submissions, have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication and commitment to reporting on critical issues that affect the continent,” the statement partly read.

Finalists for the 2024 AMDF Journalist of the Year Award include:

Photo Category:

• Ayodele Isaac — The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria.
• Olugbon Saheed — The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria.

Print Category:

• Nyima Sillah — The Voice Newspaper, Gambia.
• Segun Odunayo — The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria.
• Taiwo Alimi — The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria.

Online Category:

• Abdulraheed Hammad — The Cable, Nigeria.
• Arinze Chizioke — Ripples Nigeria.
• Kei Duku — One Citizen Newspaper, South Sudan.

Television Category:

• Adeyemi Adekunle — Lens Africa TV, Nigeria.
• Chernor Mustapha — Apex Multi-Media Co-op, Sierra Leone.
• Ibrahim Ismail — Trust TV, Nigeria.

However, the statement noted that none of the entries in the radio category met the minimum required standard outlined in the call for entry.

The winners and runners-up will be announced during the Africa Conference on Development Journalism, which will be held from December 4-5, 2024, in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

The event will also bring together journalists, media professionals and stakeholders to discuss the role of journalism in driving development and social change in Africa.

“We are incredibly proud of all the finalists and their contributions to journalism. Their work exemplifies the importance of holding powerful interests to account and shedding light on critical issues that impact our communities,” Dadik said.