Gambia.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Nyima Sillah, a journalist with The Voice Newspaper, has been named a finalist for the 2024 Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) Journalist of the Year Award in the print category, marking a significant achievement for Gambian journalism.

In a statement on Friday, the AMDF announced that finalists across five categories—print, online, photo, television, and radio journalism—were selected from a competitive pool of submissions. The foundation highlighted that the nominees demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and commitment to addressing critical issues affecting the African continent.

Nyima Sillah shares the spotlight in the print category with Segun Odunayo of The Punch Newspaper and Taiwo Alimi of The Nation Newspaper, both from Nigeria. Her nomination underscores the growing recognition of Gambian journalists in the international media landscape. Her work in The Voice Newspaper continues to highlight crucial social and political issues, reflecting the commitment of Gambian media to excellence and impactful reporting.

The nomination represents a proud moment for The Gambia, reaffirming the importance of local journalism in addressing African issues on a global stage.

Recognizing Excellence Across Africa

Other categories feature prominent journalists from across the continent. Finalists for the online category include Abdulraheed Hammad of The Cable, Nigeria; Arinze Chizioke of Ripples Nigeria; and Kei Emmanuel Duku of One Citizen Newspaper, South Sudan.

In the photo category, Ayodele Isaac of The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria, and Olugbon Saheed Adedoyin of The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria, were recognized for their outstanding contributions.

The television category boasts Adeyemi Adekunle of Lens Africa TV, Nigeria; Chernor Mustapha Thoronka of Apex Multi-Media Co-op, Sierra Leone; and Ibrahim Ismail of Trust TV, Nigeria.

Alongside the category awards, the AMDF will present its Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalistic Excellence to Anselm Okolo, a veteran journalist celebrated for his enduring commitment to excellence and his impactful contributions to African journalism.

“Mr. Okolo will be honored for his enduring commitment to excellence and impactful contributions to society through journalism,” the AMDF said.

Awards Ceremony and Development Journalism Conference

The winners and runners-up will be announced during the Africa Conference on Development Journalism, scheduled for December 4-5, 2024, in Kaduna, Nigeria. The event is expected to bring together journalists, media professionals, and stakeholders to discuss the role of journalism in driving development and fostering social change across Africa.

Sekyen Dadik, Executive Director of AMDF, lauded the finalists for their remarkable work, emphasizing the critical role of journalism in holding power to account and shedding light on pressing issues.

“We are incredibly proud of all the finalists and their contributions to journalism. Their work exemplifies the importance of holding powerful interests to account and shedding light on critical issues that impact our communities,” Dadik said.