Nigerian Tribune journalist, Justice Nwafor on Thursday emerged winner of the Business and Environment category of the Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mr Nwafor reports environment and climate change as well as business. His reporting experience also spans health, development, and conflict reporting. He is a grantee of the Earth Journalism Network, the Environmental Reporting Collective, the Africa-China Reporting Project, and more.
Mr Nwafor’s winning entry — “In Niger Delta communities, oil spill is impoverishing residents, devastating environment, dislocating cultures” — which was published in June 2022, investigated the Santa Barbara River oil spill that took place in November 2021 and how it impacted the environment and the residents of the communities close to the spill site.
The judges commended the entry for its depth of research, extensive use of data, which was well analysed, and display of infographics. They also commended the winner for his great storytelling ability and having a good understanding of the subject matter he wrote about.
The Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism have recognised and rewarded exceptional business journalism in Africa since 1974.
Other categories of the award include The African Growth Story, Business and Companies, Economy, Financial Markets, Consumer Financial Education, Broadcast: Radio/Audio/Podcasting (in business reporting), and Broadcast: Television/Video (in business reporting).
According to the organisers, the new category “received an impressive response from the journalists, as did other popular categories such as Business and Companies and the African Growth Story. The broadcast categories attracted a significantly limited number of entries.”
While speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Sanlam Group, Paul Hanratty, disclosed that the award has expanded over the years and this has also served as an encouragement for journalists in their various fields.
“This year we have over 150 entries from across the continent in various languages. Sanlam has a proud track record of supporting financial journalism and recognises that a vibrant society must have robust journalism.
“I ask all the financial journalists to keep up the great work; it’s really your effort that helps us deliver what we need to in the economic space,” he said.
The Chair of the independent judging panel and a communications consultant, Professor Nixon Kariithi, noted that the entries were highly competitive, covering various issues in Africa.
Other Nigerian journalists who emerged victorious include Damilola Olufemi (Best Newcomer), Kingsley Jeremiah (First Runner-up, African Growth Story), Ronald Adamolekun (Winner, African Growth Story), Destiny Onyemihia (Second Runner up Broadcast: Audio).
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then