Nigerian journalists shine as GAMA pronounces winners at inaugural NAMA awards

Nigerian journalists have been honoured for excellent reporting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), following the announcement of winners of the Global AMR Media Awards (GAMA) and the inaugural Nigeria AMR Media Awards (NAMA).

The awards had been introduced on Wednesday in a webinar throughout the sixth Annual Global Media Forum on AMR in Abuja.

The awards recognise journalists whose reporting has raised consciousness of antimicrobial resistance, described as one of the vital urgent public well being challenges threatening human and animal well being, meals safety and world well being techniques.

A complete of 96 entries had been submitted from Nigeria for the GAMA and inaugural NAMA awards, representing one-fourth of all submissions. NAMA was additionally applauded for its spectacular efficiency throughout all award classes.

Kazeem Biriowo of the Nigerian Tribune emerged as the primary prize winner of the inaugural NAMA Awards, whereas Julian Adetinuyo of News Scope Africa received the second prize and Mariam Ile-yemi of Premium Times received the third prize.

Other winners within the particular point out class for the NAMA Awards are Folashade Akpan of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chioma Obinna of Vanguard, Helen Oji Emmanuel of Blueprint, Fatima Saka of Distinct News, Chinyere Okorafor of Nigeria Health Times, Laide Akinboade of Daily Asset, and Odimmegwa John Peter of New Africa Horizon.

The first, second and third prize winners will obtain certificates and money presents, with the money prizes introduced with help from the Art for Health Initiative in Nigeria, a non-profit organisation.

Other NAMA members additionally received numerous classes of the GAMA awards.

In the Reporting on the fifth High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR class, Annabel Nwachukwu of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) received the primary prize, Edward Samuel Ikpete of Voice of Nigeria (VON) received the second prize, and Doris Obinna of The Sun received the third prize, whereas Alice Etuka of The Fact Daily obtained a particular point out.

In the People’s Reporting class, Isioma Appiah-Yeboah of Clean Beat Radio received the primary prize, whereas Princess Ekwi-Ajide of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Smith Nwokocha of Port Harcourt Wakawaka Blog and Chioma Vivian James of True Verdict received particular point out prizes.

Patience Ihejirika of Leadership newspaper and Benedict Ifeanyi Chukwu of Kaftan TV additionally received particular point out prizes for the Africa class of the GAMA awards.

Speaking after the announcement, the Founding Chairperson of the Nigeria AMR Media Alliance (NAMA), Ojoma Akor, congratulated the winners and described the inaugural awards as an necessary step in the direction of strengthening the standard, depth and affect of AMR reporting in Nigeria.

“The inaugural NAMA Awards represent an important milestone for health and science journalism in Nigeria. For too long, antimicrobial resistance has received insufficient attention in our newsrooms, despite its enormous implications for public health, healthcare delivery, food security and national development,” Akor stated.

“These awards are not simply about celebrating individual journalists. They recognise the power of journalism to make an invisible public health threat visible, translate complex scientific evidence into accessible information, amplify the experiences of affected communities and hold institutions accountable.”

She congratulated all winners and nominees, saying their work demonstrates that Nigerian journalists can play a vital function in shaping public understanding and strengthening the nationwide response to AMR.

Akor stated the alliance stays dedicated to constructing the capability of journalists, encouraging investigative and solutions-oriented reporting, and making certain that AMR receives sustained consideration.

The Founder of Art for Health Initiative, Chidera Rosecamille Aneke, stated AMR is among the organisation’s focal areas, and it was glad to help the NAMA awards to push revolutionary storytelling that communicates AMR in methods audiences can perceive.

She stated the initiative works on the intersection of storytelling, media and the humanities to drive public understanding and motion on vital well being points, and goals by way of the help to raise impactful, revolutionary and solutions-driven journalism.

The GAMA Awards recognise excellent media contributions to elevating consciousness and selling motion towards AMR throughout totally different areas of the world.

The inclusion of the Nigeria AMR Media Awards as a nationwide chapter initiative offers a possibility to recognise native reporting excellence whereas connecting Nigerian journalists to a rising worldwide community of media professionals working to handle AMR.

The Chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance, Shobha Shukla, congratulated Nigerian journalists for contributing to the success of the third Edition of the GAMA Media Awards.

She credited Akor, the founding Chairperson of the Nigeria Chapter of GAMA, for shining a highlight on the ravages of AMR and strengthening media efforts to handle and management it.

“AMR is not just a medical or scientific issue; it is a societal and development challenge. We cannot win the fight against AMR in laboratories and hospitals alone. We need an informed public, accountable governments, and responsible practices across human, animal, and environmental health,” Shukla stated.

“The media has the power to connect these dots, amplify the voices of affected communities and turn awareness into action. That is why media engagement is not an optional component of the AMR response, it is indispensable to its success.”

She urged the media to maneuver past reporting AMR as a well being information situation, and assist construct a public motion for accountable antimicrobial use and stronger well being techniques.

Antimicrobial resistance happens when micro organism, viruses, fungi and parasites not reply successfully to medicines, making infections more and more tough to deal with and elevating the dangers related to routine medical procedures, surgical procedure and different important healthcare interventions.

Nigeria has taken steps to strengthen its response by way of its National Action Plan on AMR, surveillance actions, antimicrobial stewardship, an infection prevention and management, and collaboration amongst stakeholders throughout the One Health sectors.

However, sustained public consciousness, stronger coverage implementation, sufficient financing, analysis and efficient communication stay important.

NAMA stated journalists have a strategic function in bridging the hole between scientific data, authorities insurance policies and public understanding, and can proceed to work with authorities establishments, improvement companions, analysis organisations, skilled associations and media organisations to strengthen the capability of Nigerian journalists to report on AMR.

Akor referred to as on authorities companies, improvement companions, well being professionals, researchers and civil society organisations to deepen their engagement with journalists and help impartial, evidence-based reporting on AMR.

NAMA congratulated all winners, nominees and collaborating journalists and reaffirmed its dedication to creating AMR a sustained precedence in Nigeria’s media and public well being conversations.