Justice Nwafor of the Nigerian Tribune was named the winner of the Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism’s Business and Environment category on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mr. Nwafor covers both corporate and environmental issues. His reporting background includes conflict, development, and health reporting. He has received grants from the Environmental Reporting Collective, the Earth Journalism Network, the Africa-China Reporting Project, and other organisations.
The winning essay by Mr. Nwafor, “In Niger Delta Communities, Oil Spill is Impoverishing Residents, Devastating Environment, Dislocating Cultures,” was published in June 2022 and examined the effects of the November 2021 Santa Barbara River oil spill on the surrounding communities’ residents and the environment.
The judges praised the entry for its wide use of well-analyzed data, thorough research, and infographics. They also praised the winner for his excellent narrative skills and thorough knowledge of the subject matter covered in his essay.
Since 1974, the Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism have honoured and recognised the best business reporting in Africa.
The African Growth Story, Business and Companies, Economy, Financial Markets, Consumer Financial Education, and others are other categories for the prize. In business reporting, broadcast media include radio, audio, podcasts, and television and video.
The organisers claim that the journalists responded favourably to the new category as well as others that were well-liked, like Business and Companies and the African Growth Story. There were very few entries in the broadcast categories.
Paul Hanratty, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Sanlam Group, stated during his speech that the award has grown over the years and that this has inspired journalists in their many disciplines.
“This year, we had over 150 submissions in a variety of languages from around the continent. Sanlam has a distinguished history of promoting financial journalism and understands the importance of strong media to a healthy society.
“I ask all 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.
Professor Nixon Kariithi, the chair of the impartial judging panel and a communications expert, stated that the submissions were fiercely contested and covered a range of African concerns.
