Nigerian Journalists Win Big At Global AMR Media Awards

Nigerian Journalists Win Big At Global AMR Media Awards

Nigerian journalists have emerged among the top winners at both the inaugural Nigeria AMR Media Awards and the global AMR Media awards.

The country recorded a strong performance in global recognition for reporting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing health threat that makes infections increasingly difficult to treat.

In the NAMA awards, Kazeem Biriowo of the Nigerian Tribune clinched the first prize, followed by Julian Adetinuyo of News Scope Africa in second place and Mariam Ile-yemi of Premium Times in third place.

The winners were announced on Thursday, November 11, during the 6th Global Media Forum on AMR, where Nigerian journalists received recognition for their contributions to raising public awareness about drug-resistant infections.

The awards, which featured the Global AMR Media Awards (GAMA) and the inaugural Nigeria AMR Media Awards (NAMA), sought to promote responsible, evidence-based journalism on antimicrobial resistance and its implications for human health, animal health and food security.

Nigeria recorded a significant showing, submitting 96 entries for the two awards, representing one-quarter of all submissions.

The Nigeria AMR Media Alliance (NAMA) was also commended for its performance across the award categories especially as Bassey Ita Ikpang of the NTA forfeited her own award for the younger generation.

Other Nigerian journalists recognised in the NAMA special mention category include Folashade Akpan of the News Agency of Nigeria, Chioma Obinna of Vanguard, Helen Oji Emmanuel of Blueprint, Fatima Saka of DistinctNews, 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 receive certificates and cash awards, with support from the Art for Health Initiative in Nigeria.

In the Global AMR Media Awards, GAMA category on reporting the 5th High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, Annabel Nwachukwu of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) won first prize, while Edward Samuel Ikpete of Voice of Nigeria (VON) came second and Doris Obinna of The Sun clinched third place.

In the People’s Reporting category, Isioma Appiah-Yeboah of Clean Beat Radio won first prize, while Princess-Ekwi Ajide of Anambra Radio Corporation, Smith Nwokocha of Port Harcourt WakaWaka and Chioma Vivian James received special mentions.

Patience Ihejirika of Leadership newspaper and Benedict Ifeanyi Chukwu of Kaftan TV also received special mentions in the Africa category.

Speaking after the announcement, NAMA Founding Chairperson, Ojoma Akor, described the inaugural Nigerian awards as an important milestone for health and science journalism.

She said antimicrobial resistance had received insufficient attention in newsrooms despite its serious implications for public health, healthcare delivery, food security and national development.

According to Akor, the awards go beyond celebrating individual journalists to recognising journalism’s ability to make an often-overlooked public health threat visible, translate complex scientific evidence into accessible information and hold institutions accountable.

She congratulated the winners and nominees, adding that NAMA would continue to strengthen journalists’ capacity, promote investigative and solutions-oriented reporting and ensure sustained media attention to AMR.

Founder of Art for Health Initiative, Chidera Rosecamille Aneke, said the organisation was pleased to support the awards because antimicrobial resistance was one of its focal areas.

She explained that the initiative works at the intersection of storytelling, media and the arts to improve public understanding of critical health issues.

Aneke said the support was intended to encourage innovative, impactful and solutions-driven journalism that communicates AMR in ways audiences can understand.

Chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance, Shobha Shukla, also congratulated Nigerian journalists, commending Akor for strengthening the country’s contribution to global efforts to address antimicrobial resistance.

Shukla stressed that AMR was not merely a medical or scientific problem but a wider societal and development challenge requiring coordinated action.

She said the media must move beyond treating AMR as another health news subject and help build public support for responsible antimicrobial use, stronger health systems and government accountability.

Why AMR reporting matters

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to resist medicines that previously treated infections effectively.

The development makes infections harder to treat, increases the risk of complications and threatens the safety of routine medical procedures, surgeries and other essential healthcare interventions.

Nigeria has been implementing its National Action Plan on AMR through surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control, as well as collaboration among stakeholders under the One Health approach.

However, challenges remain in public awareness, policy implementation, financing, research and effective communication.

NAMA says journalists have a critical responsibility to bridge the gap between scientific evidence, government policies and public understanding.

Akor called on government agencies, development partners, healthcare professionals, researchers and civil society organisations to strengthen their engagement with journalists and support independent, evidence-based reporting on antimicrobial resistance.

She reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to working with relevant institutions and media organisations to ensure AMR receives sustained attention in Nigeria’s public health conversations.