AMDF Announces Finalists For 2026 Journalist Of The Year Awards; Names Dapo Olorunyomi Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has announced the finalists for the 2026 AMDF Journalist of the Year Awards, following a rigorous assessment of submissions across five categories.
The entries came from nine African countries: Benin, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The finalists, whose names are listed alphabetically within each category, are:
ONLINE
- Hammad Abdulrasheed — Ripples Nigeria, Nigeria.
- Janefrances Chibundu — TheCable, Nigeria.
- Nanji Nandang — International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Nigeria.
- Chima Azubuike — PUNCH, Nigeria.
- Daniel Ayantoye — PUNCH Newspaper, Nigeria.
- Sisay Sahlu Nigatu — The Reporter, Ethiopia.
RADIO
- Juliet Buna — Crest FM, Nigeria.
TELEVISION
- Nana Boakye Dankwah Yiadom — Joy News, Ghana.
Only one submission was recommended in the Television category following the assessment of the submissions received.
PHOTOGRAPHY
No finalist was recommended in the Photography category following the assessment of the submissions received.
The Chairman of the Selection Committee, Mr. Joseph Edegbo, Managing Editor of Africa Prime News, commended the strong quality and diversity of the entries. He described the selection exercise as rigorous, noting that submissions were carefully assessed against established criteria, including development relevance, investigative depth, originality, research and evidence, public-interest value, storytelling and actual or potential impact.
He added that the Committee examined the substance of the submitted journalistic works rather than relying solely on applicants’ descriptions, and undertook careful comparisons within each category to identify works that best exemplified development journalism.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi will receive the 2026 AMDF Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honours veteran journalists and media figures whose careers have made a lasting and transformative impact on development journalism, public discourse and ethical reporting in Africa. Unlike the other award categories, the Lifetime Achievement Award is selected strictly by the AMDF Board, with only one recipient honoured each year. It is presented annually during the Africa Conference on Development Journalism.
The winners and runners-up in the Journalist of the Year categories, alongside the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced and presented at the 10th Africa Conference on Development Journalism, scheduled for 2nd–4th December 2026.
AMDF congratulates all the finalists and appreciates every journalist who submitted an entry, recognising their contributions to development-focused journalism across Africa.
SIGNED
Sekyen Dadik
Executive Director
Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF)
Kaduna, Nigeria