The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has awarded 13 journalists across West Africa for its 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards.
The award ceremony took place at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, on 26 November, as part of the annual Media and Development conference organised by the centre.
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This year’s award, which is the second edition, recognised exceptional contributions to journalism, fact-checking, media innovation, and community-centred reporting across West Africa.
The centre received 275 entries from journalists across West Africa, which it screened down to 35 stories. An independent panel of six judges reviewed the 35 stories for further evaluation, and 13 finalists were subsequently announced.
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Ajibola Amzat, who is the Africa Editor, Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), delivered the judges’ comments.
Mr Amzat revealed that all entries received under the categories: Sexual and Gender Based-Violence (SGBV) reporting, climate change and environment reporting, social accountability reporting, health reporting, community reporting, and Solutions reporting, were judged based on accuracy and fairness, storytelling, depth of research, innovation, public significance and adherence to ethical standards.
For the fact-check category, he noted that the criteria slightly differed to include evidence and justification, public interest, and writing clarity and structure.
“The criteria used for each of the categories were first, accuracy and fairness, and then we also looked at the originality of the work and innovations displayed by the reporter. We also considered the depth of research. The storytelling and the writing quality of the copies. Finally, we looked at the impact and the public significance of the story submitted and the adherence to ethical standards.
“For fact-checking categories, we adopted different kinds of criteria. We looked at evidence and justification, we looked at public interests and significance, the depth of research, writing clarity and structure. Those are the criteria we use for the fact checks. So they are not exactly the same criteria we use for the other kind of stories in different categories.”
The awardees
For the SGBV category, Sodeeq Atanda of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) won with his two-part story titled EXCLUSIVE: How FUOYE VC Abayomi Fasina Pressed Married Colleague for Sexual Relationship Against Her Will. Hauwa Nuhu from HumAngle Media emerged as the runner-up with her report titled A Tragic Femicide Case in Northeastern Nigeria Smells Like Honour Killing.
For the Social Accountability category, Evans Aziamor-Mensah of the Fourth Estate won with his report titled Free Wi-Fi: Government pays service provider GHS56m for no internet in schools. Taiwo Adebulu of The Cable emerged as the runner-up of this category with his report titled, INVESTIGATION: Despite environmental risks, Nigerian governors converting conservation centres into luxury estates.
For the Health category, Abdulwaheed Sofiullahi from HumAngle Media won with his report titled Amid Deforestation Scourge, Vanishing Herbal Plants Pose Health Crisis in Southwestern Nigeria. Sodiq Ojuroungbe of The Punch emerged as the runner-up in this category with his report titled How obsolete facilities turn Kogi federal hospital to death house.
For Community Reporting, Philip Agbove and Justice Baidoo from The Fourth Estate won with their report titled Death and brutality: The battle for West Africa’s largest salt deposit. Muslim Yusuf, of Daily Trust, emerged as the runner-up for this category for his investigation titled Inside Abuja’s Drug Problem.
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For the Solution Journalism category, Alfred Ajayi of Radio Nigeria won with his report titled Anambra free maternal care policy sparks hope despite challenges. Mahdi Garba of Nigeria Health Watch emerged as the runner-up with his report titled Lafiya Sisters Expand Contraceptive Access for Women in Hard-to-Reach Jigawa Communities.
For the fact-check category, Kwaku Asante of Fact-Check Ghana won with his fact-check titled Influence and Deception: How pro-NPP firm flaunting UK connection produced polls favouring Bawumia. Ifeyinwa Francis of the Centre for Storytelling and Development Initiative emerged as the runner-up with her fact-check titled “False Endorsement, Fake Urgency Used to Sell Unproven Prostatitis Drug.”
While there was no winner or runner-up in the climate change category, Victor Jones of Africa Young Voices Media Empire (AYV) received an honourable mention for his report on carbon emissions in Freetown.
Mr Amzat revealed that the judges could not award anyone in the Climate Change category because most of the submissions did not address the issue of climate change, and the articles did not meet the standard set by the panel.
The “Editor of the Year”, which was initially introduced, was not handed out this year.
Mr Amzat said the criteria “made it impossible” for the panel to determine a winner in the editors category fairly. He noted the committee had presented their recommendations to CJID, and the category would be reintroduced next year.”
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