TheCable

Taiwo Adebulu, a reporter with TheCable, has emerged winner of the sustainable development goals (SDG) category of the 2017 Zimeo Excellence in Media awards.

Adebulu beat two other nominees to clinch the top prize in the continental award, which held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

The judges rated his report, Inside Ondo community where children fish in the Atlantic Ocean to raise school fees, as the best in the SDG category.

Two other Nigerians — Kunle Falayi of Punch Newspapers and Destiny Onyemihia of Voice of NIGERIA, Radio — won in their respective categories.

While Falayi clinched the top prize in the report on urbanisation category, Onyemihia’s entry was adjudged the best in the category of maritime economy.

The awards were presented at a gala night, which capped the activities of a 2-day Africa Senior Media Dialogue jointly organised by African Media Initiative (AMI) in conjunction with the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the UN Office of the special adviser on Africa, UNESCO, and the Federation of African Journalists.

The competition attracted hundreds of entries from across Africa in English, French, Portuguese and Swahili.

A jury of 15, stationed in different parts of the continent, picked the winners.

“The growing interest in these awards clearly points to the renewed importance that media in Africa accords to the issues that citizens are most concerned about,” said Eric Chinje, chief executive officer of AMI.

“We see an exceptional effort in the winning entries to drive the development agenda, because that’s essentially the objective of the Zimeo programme.”

Wangethi Mwangi, the judging coordinator, said the competition was challenging because of the rich entries received.

“The screening demanded more of the jury’s time and energy… every submission meticulously to ensure they dig out that gem that reflects the very best in development journalism,” Mwangi said.

Adebulu, who does freelance work for TheCable, started writing professionally during his undergraduate days as a guest writer on the digital platform of Nigeria Village Square (nigeriavillagesquare.com).

He obtained a bachelor’s of education (B.Ed) degree in Language Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state in 2011, and is currently running a master’s of education (M.Ed) degree in Communication Art at the University of Ibadan.

In May, he was featured in C.Hub magazine, a UK-based publication.

Recently, he was named a finalist in the best journalist category of 2017 Creative African Awards in London.

“I feel really honoured to have won the prestigious continental award. Really, I didn’t see the award coming,” he said.

“I just wanted to do a story with impact. I wanted to do something about the plight of those children who strive to acquire basic education against all odds in such a difficult terrain. It was very hard touring the coastal areas for days getting to meet those children and living with them for a few days.

“I fell into the water so many times and damaged my camera in the process. But I was determined that I was going to tell the story. So, I’m really happy that this award has come to reward the effort. Nevertheless, it will spur me to tell more engaging stories about the less privileged in the society.”

Here is the full list of the finalists and winners of Zimeo awards:

THE CHAIR’S AWARD FOR OVERALL EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM

Jay Caboz (Magazine Forbes woman, South Africa)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Ancillar Mangena (Magazine Forbes woman, South Africa) WINNER

Second: Waikwa Maina (Kenya)

Third: Patrick Egwu Ejike (Nigeria)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)

Taiwo Adebulu (TheCable) WINNER

Second: Tunde Ajaja (Nigeria)

Third: Adam Alqali (Nigeria)

CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Dorcas Wangira (Ktn, Kenya) WINNER

Second: Ndiol Seck (Senegal)

Third: Macpherson Mukuka (Zambia)

REPORT ON URBANIZATION

Kunle Falayi (Punch Newspapers, Nigeria)

Second: Muritala Ayinla (Nigeria)

Third: Toluwani Eniola (Nigeria)

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

Bakouan Ouaboue (Radio Crank, Burkina Faso) WINNER

Second: Hannah Ojo (Nigeria)

Third: Renovat Ndabashinze (Burundi)

THE MARITIME ECONOMY

Destiny Abanyem Onyemihia (Voice of NIGERIA, Radio) WINNER

Second: Joseph Burite (Uganda)

Third: Jay Caboz (South Africa)

ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Nuzulack Dausen (The Citizen, Tanzania) WINNER

Second: Femi ASU (Nigeria)

Third: Jeffrey Moyo (Zimbabwe)

PEACE AND SECURITY

Ridwan Karimi Sun-Osman (Ghone TV, Ghana) WINNER

Second: Christian Locka (Cameroon)

Third: Suy Kahofi (Côte d’Ivoire)