The Health Editor of Daily Trust Newspaper, Nigeria, Ojoma Akor has emerged as the third-place winner of the 2021 Global Nutrition and Food Security Reporting Contest for her story about a rural community’s efforts to stave off hunger in orphans.
Leon Lidigu, a Kenyan journalist who revealed the struggles of a vulnerable community faced with malnutrition in school children in his report, The Cost of Malnutrition was the first-place winner of the contest, while Srishti Jaswal of India was second place for her exposé of a national food distribution system that left out millions of needy families.
Akor’s story according to the announcement by the organisers used graphics, photos and videos to tell how a community in northern Nigeria helped more than 30 families caring for orphans and vulnerable children stave off hunger.
She reported how the Dukpa community donated land for communal farming of crops to serve vulnerable children, including those who had lost parents to violence in the conflict-plagued region.
The award is given by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in partnership with the Eleanor Crook Foundation, U.S.-based philanthropy solely dedicated to the fight against malnutrition.
It recognizes powerful and forward-looking storytelling on the impacts of malnutrition on childhood development and on proven interventions, such as breastfeeding and life-saving food supplements.
“Congratulations to the winners of the Nutrition and Food Security Reporting Contest. The dynamic reporting from each of the participants serves as an important reminder of the incredible power of storytelling,” said Will Moore, CEO of the Eleanor Crook Foundation. “They represent the thousands of courageous journalists the world over who are working every day to bring increased attention to underreported issues, including the worsening global malnutrition crisis. These stories are key to ensuring vulnerable communities have access to lifesaving care.”