News
CNN MultiChoice Announces African Journalist 2016 Finalists
Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016 Competition were announced today by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel.
This year, the competition received 1637 entries – a record number – from 38 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese-speaking Africa.
There are 38 finalists from 14 countries: Adedayo Eriye Oketola, Saturday Punch, Nigeria; Aderonke Bello, naij.com, Nigeria; Eromo Egbejule, Freelancer at Ventures Africa, Nigeria; Folashade Adebayo, The Punch, Nigeria; Veronica Onuchi, TVC News Africa, Nigeria; Yemisi Akinbobola, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu & Paul Bradshaw, IQ4News for Premium Times, Nigeria; Ancillar Mangena, Forbes Africa, South Africa; Asha Ahmed Mwilu & Rashid Idi, Kenya Television Network, Kenya; Ati Metwaly, Al Ahram Weekly, Egypt; Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique and Bidossèssi Appolinaire Agoïnon, Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin, Benin.
Others are Cheboite Kigen, Daily Nation Newspaper, Kenya; Chika Oduah, Nigeria, Freelancer at African Story Challenge, Media Initiative, Kenya; Cleófas Viagem, STV, Mozambique; Conan Daniel Businge & Gerald Tenywa, New Vision, Uganda; Coulibaly Zoumana, Le Patriote, Ivory Coast; Diana Neille, Richard Poplak, Shaun Swingler and Sumeya Gasa, Daily Maverick Chronicle, South Africa; Dominic Omondi, The Standard, Kenya; Faten Hayed, El Watan, Algeria; Fidelto Emidio Bata, STV, Mozambique; Garreth van Niekerk, City Press, South Africa; Isaac Otidi Amuke, Commonwealth Writers, Kenya; James Oatway, The Sunday Times, South Africa.
Others on the finals’ list are Jay Caboz, Forbes Africa, South Africa; Jean-Luc Emile, Teleplus, Mauritius; John Grobler, Namibia, and Fiona Macleod, Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, South Africa; Lawrence Seretse, The Botswana Gazette, Botswana; Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, South Africa; Teresa Fuquiadi, Jornal Nova Gazeta, Angola and Veronica Narkwor Kwabla, Tv3 Network, Ghana.
The independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the Judging Panel & Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa, includes: Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Former Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions; Eleni Giokos, Africa Correspondent, CNN; Fernando Gonçalves, Editor, Savana, Mozambique; Anton Harber, Editor-in-Chief, eNCA, South Africa; Joel Kibazo, Media & Public Affairs Consultant; Amadou Mahtar Ba, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, AllAfrica Global Media; Wanja Njuguna, Senior Lecturer, Namibia University of Science & Technology & CNN Journalist of the year 2000; David Ohito, Digital Editor, The Standard Media Group, Kenya and José Sebastião Paulo, Professor of Journalism, University Agostinho Neto, Angola.
The finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid four day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Johannesburg, South Africa, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony in October 2016.
Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: “This year has seen a record number of entries for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, from a diverse array of countries across the continent. The passion which African journalists display for telling compelling and top class stories knows no bounds. Once more, CNN proudly continues its commitment to encouraging inspired journalistic excellence with these awards.”
Greg Beitchman, Vice President, Content Sales and Partnerships, CNN International: “The African Journalist Awards continues to maintain its place as the most prestigious Pan African journalist competition. CNN encourages, promotes and recognises excellence in journalism across all platforms, so we are particularly pleased to be able to support journalists who represent the continent’s thriving news industry in all its forms. With our MultiChoice partners, we look forward to yet another thrilling Awards ceremony celebrating the very best journalism Africa has to offer.”
Mark Rayner, CEO MultiChoice South Africa said: “We’re excited to host the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards in South Africa this year and looking forward to see all the good work done by our journalists celebrated and recognised through these awards. Congratulations to all the finalists.”
Tim Jacobs, CEO MultiChoice Africa, said: It is evident from this year’s entries that Africa has a vibrant media landscape which continues to develop in leaps and bounds. The finalists are to be applauded for their courage in covering some of the stories, many of which were in difficult circumstances. We are committed to increasing excellence in journalism and this initiative is close to our hearts, as it has helped unearth some of Africa’s greatest story tellers. Congratulations to all the finalists, we look forward to celebrating you at the awards.”
Atte Ayodeji, a Nigerian computer scientist,has developed an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting, counting, grouping and generating healthy hair follicles during hair transplant procedures, an innovation that earned him the Best Innovative Technology award.
Atte Ayodeji
Ayodeji also graduated with a Distinction in his Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Birmingham City University on Friday, adding another milestone to an impressive academic year.
Beyond his award-winning hair transplant innovation, the Nigerian researcher developed a system and framework on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as a professional responsibility in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
His dissertation received a silver award at the PGXPO2026 Winter, further highlighting the impact of his research in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare.
Sunday Dare, special adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, celebrated Ayodeji’s achievements in a post on X, recalling how he first met him in 2019 during his National Youth Service.
“In 2019 when I became a Minister of the Republic, I met a young man of medium height, genteel with penetrating eyes: Atte Ayodeji. His words rarely come out and he could easily be passed by unnoticed. But I noticed him especially when my SA Kemi Areola brought him to me asking my approval for him to do his Youth Service in my office. I approved. From then on he was unstoppable. His brilliance shown and he developed skills beyond his frame.”
Highlighting Ayodeji’s recent accomplishments, Dare congratulated him saying, “Congratulations Atte. I am proud of you!”
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power, has said that the federal government plans to end power sector subsidies from 2027 and that there are no immediate plans for tariff increases.
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power
The minister told journalists during the media interactive session at the weekend that the government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of efforts to address mounting liabilities in the power sector.
He explained that the planned removal forms part of the broader reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector, while tackling the financial challenges confronting the industry.
According to the minister, despite the planned subsidy withdrawal, there are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, reassuring consumers that the government is not considering a tariff hike in the short term.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
SERAP Asks Tinubu to Probe Alleged N6.79Bn Missing Police Funds, Firearms
FCT Court Awards Ex-Customers N15m against Stanbic IBTC over Data Privacy Breach
CBN Exposes over 13,000 BVNs Tied to Fraud as Banks Tighten Security
Atte, Nigerian Develops AI Algorithm for Hair Transplants
Dare Tackles Onaiyekan over Criticism of Tinubu, Says Economic is Working
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
Tokenization, Blockchain Technology will Transform Financial Institutions – IMF
Broadcasting3 days agoDavido Shares Past Suicidal Thoughts, Drops Oriadé Album
E-Business3 days agoHow Temu Helped a Madagascan Vanilla Family Business Sell Direct to Consumers Across Europe
News3 days agoCisco Explores AI for Nigeria Farmers
General News3 days agoMTN Nigeria Posts N707.5bn H1 Profit, Declares N26 Interim Dividend
News3 days agoAfCFTA Urges Africa to Stop Exporting Raw Materials
General News3 days agoGavi Okays $500m for Vaccines, PHCs in Nigeria
E-Business3 days ago82% of Organizations Concerned about AI Risks Even as Adoption Accelerates – Survey Reveals
E-Business3 days agoFG Must Consider Data Security, Sovereignty in 3MTT Initiative – Stakeholders