ABUJA—A report by Social Voices has won the Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa at the inaugural Excellence in Journalism Awards, organized by the Center for Journalism, Innovation, and Development (CJID). Social Voices’ reporter, Prosper Ishaya, who authored the report, was honoured with the Excellence in Journalism Award at the prestigious ceremony held in Abuja on November 27.
The report, titled “Amid Rising Femicide, Advocates Mobilize for Legal Reform, Tech Solutions,” was recognised for its depth, relevance, storytelling, and focus on actionable solutions. Published during a period of heightened concern over gender-based violence in Nigeria, the report highlights how DOHS Cares Foundation, a Nigerian pro-women activist organization, is employing innovative strategies to drive legal reforms and leverage technology to safeguard women’s rights.
According to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), the story stood out among 388 entries submitted for the maiden edition of the West African Excellence in Journalism Awards, honouring our reporter, Ishaya, who emerged as both a finalist and a winner in the solutions journalism category. Olayide Soaga of Prime Progress was awarded as the first runner-up for the same category.
The award ceremony, held as part of this year’s Media and Development Conference, “Navigating Global Shifts: Media and Technology for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Africa,” underscored the vital role of media in addressing the continent’s pressing challenges amid global change.
Bringing together media professionals worldwide, the event spotlighted innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence as powerful tools for advancing democracy and sustainable development in Africa. The CJID hopes to continue this effort by rewarding journalists who push boundaries, inspire dialogue, and tell impactful stories in Africa.
The award win emphasizes Social Voices’ commitment to telling impactful solutions journalism stories that spotlight efforts made to address vital social problems.
Previously, another Social Voices report titled “A Non-Profit is Using Artificial Intelligence to Link Blood Donors” by Tijani Abdulkabeer won the 2022 Emerging Health Technologies (EHTs) Media Award of Excellence in the online category. The report was produced in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch through the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting on responses to social problems.
The EHTs Media Award was initiated in October 2022 by the Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform) – a project of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP). This initiative aims to support quality science journalism in Africa, particularly on emerging technologies that have the potential to address the continent’s pressing health challenges.
