Nigerian wins best fact-check journalist in Africa
AJournalist with the International Centre for Investigative reporting (ICIR), Lagos, Chikezie Omeje, has emerged winner of this year’s Africa Fact-checking Award.
His report on “Did Nigeria record a reduction in preschool enrolment?” stood out from the 150 entries received this year across African countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa, and Zimbabwe among others.
In the “Best student journalist fact-check” category, M Ngom, CESTI of Senegal emerged best with his story titled “Dakar n’est pas la deuxième ville au monde la plus polluée” while Ibrahim Alawode Dubawa of University of Ibadan was runner-up for his story “Does Nigeria Have The Highest Number Of Out-Of-School Children In The World?”.
The award ceremony which took place in Johannesburg on October 30 was part of this year’s African Investigative Journalism Conference held in Wits Science Stadium of the University of Witswatersrand.
The Chairman of the jury for the awards, Professor Franz Kruger commenting on this year’s award said “In general, there was some really good work. We were particularly struck by the student entries, which were very strong. In some cases, they were well ahead of entries from professional journalists.”
Africa Check is an independent fact checking organization established in 2012 that seeks to promote accuracy in Journalism and among politicians.
The annual Award which is in its fifth year, honours Journalist of African-based Media in the area of Fact-checking. The Award is supported by MacArthur Foundation, Wits University, AFP, Open Society Foundation, Shuttleworth Foundation, Omidyar Network.