The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has announced the panel of judges for its 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards.
In a statement on Saturday, the organisation said the awards received 275 entries from journalists across West Africa.
The volume of submissions, according to the organisation, underscores the growing influence of the awards as a benchmark for quality and accountability journalism in the region.
CJID said five finalists have been shortlisted in each of the seven award categories for final evaluation by an independent panel of judges comprising seven seasoned media professionals.
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The judging panel is chaired by Manasseh Azure Awuni, an award-winning investigative journalist and editor.
Other members include Ajibola Amzat, Africa editor at the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ); Kent Mensah, chief Ghana correspondent for The Africa Report; Tessy Igomu, deputy editor, Punch Weekend Titles; Hamadou Tidiane Sy, Francophone Africa editor at the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN); and Hewete Haileselassie, editor-in-chief of Bird Story Agency and former BBC senior journalist.
The CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards celebrates outstanding contributions to journalism, fact-checking, media innovation, and community-centred reporting across West Africa.
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It forms part of the centre’s commitment to strengthening independent media that drive accountability, transparency, and sustainable development.
The 2025 edition of the awards is supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, reflecting a shared commitment to press freedom, democratic accountability, and media sustainability in the region.
Speaking on the shortlist, Akintunde Babatunde, CJID’s executive director, commended the quality and diversity of submissions received.
“The number and calibre of entries reflect a growing vibrancy and resilience within the West African media space,” Babatunde said.
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“Across the region, journalists are working under challenging conditions to expose injustice, deepen accountability, and tell stories that truly matter.
“Through this award, CJID reaffirms its belief that a free, innovative, and ethical press remains vital to Africa’s democratic and developmental aspirations.”
Kemi Busari, chair of the awards committee, also lauded the depth and standard of entries submitted this year.
“We received some outstanding entries this year, and we are pleased to see journalism continuing to uphold its accountability role in West Africa. As we did last year, we will once again be celebrating great journalism on November 27,” he said.
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The shortlisted entries will now proceed to evaluation by the independent panel of judges.
The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on November 27 in Abuja as part of the CJID Media and Development Conference 2025.
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