Out of nine finalists released by the Africa Media Development Foundation on Wednesday, for 2023 Journalist of the Year Award three PUNCH Newspaper correspondents were nominated.
The correspondents include Chima Azubuike, Gombe PUNCH, Jaiyeola Olukayode, and Solomon Odeniyi.
Other nominees are Christian Njoku of News Agency of Nigeria; Martha Agas of News Agency of Nigeria; Ojoma Akor of Daily Trust; Philip Yatai of News Agency of Nigeria; Shindong Bala of Radio Nigeria.
Our correspondent reports that AMDF Journalist of the Year Award was first introduced in 2016 to promote the culture of in-depth development journalism in the African media space.
This was contained in a press statement signed by its Executive Director, Sekyen Dadik, adding that the Panel of Judges for the 2023 AMDF Journalist of the Year Award, chaired by Mr Joseph Edegbo, Managing Editor of Africa Prime News announced the nine finalists for this year’s award.
According to the Panel Chairman, the nine finalists have demonstrated professional skills in their stories by going deep into writing issue-based development stories.
The statement partly read, “finalists were from the five categories print, online, photo, television, and radio. They are (alphabetically arranged): Chenemi Bamaiyi of TVC; Chima Azubuike of Punch Newspapers; Christian Njoku of News Agency of Nigeria; Jaiyeola Olukayode of Punch Newspapers; Martha Agas of News Agency of Nigeria; Ojoma Akor of Daily Trust; Philip Yatai of News Agency of Nigeria; Shindong Bala of Radio Nigeria; Solomon Odeniyi of Punch Newspapers.
“The winners, runners-up, and commended works will be announced and presented awards during the Africa Conference on Development Journalism in Kaduna Nigeria, to be held on the 6th & 7th of December 2023.”
Dadik statement disclosed that AMDF would present an Honorary Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence to a media veteran, “Hajiya Hauwa Saulawa, former General Manager, Companion FM, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Katsina Station for her immeasurable contribution to the promotion of development journalism in Nigeria,” the statement added.
