The 12 journalists selected for the African sustainable energy reporting fellowship powered by Climate Tracker in partnership with Hivos Energy are four Nigerians, twp Kenyans, two Ugandans, Egyptian, Tanzanian, Malawian and Zimbabwean.
Below are the profiles of the winners:
Amos Abba is an investigative journalist with The International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, an online news platform in Abuja. He currently reports the oil and gas sector with a special focus on how the activities of the oil industry in Nigeria impacts the environment. He earned a spot at the fellowship with “Solar energy in Nigeria: a dream or hoax”.
Oladeinde Olawoyin is passionate about telling hidden stories of Climate, Environment and Development as they affect underprivileged people across Africa. First Class graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Lagos-based development-focused journalist open to collaborations that would impact humanity and make the world a better place to live. A report by him, “Flooding in Nigeria: how Lagos govt’s policies expose residents to environmental hazards”, has been published on Climate Tracker.
Niyi Oyedeji is a young journalist of many paths, who believes in solving issues in the society through his reportages. He currently works with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Abuja, Nigeria after spending over two years at the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper. His works revolve around Education, Climate Change, Global Health, Gender, Fact-checking, Development and humanitarian issues. His report, “COVID-19: Nigerian students groan under darkness, power failure blocks them from e-learning”, has made it to the website of Climate Tracker.
Jennifer Ugwa is a freelance investigative journalist. She has written quite a number of reports on Nigeria/World politics, Business, Human/Child Rights, and effects of government policies on the environment as it impacts climate change. Jennifer believes that little drops make an ocean and through her reports hold state and non-state actors accountable. According to her, she is a “die-hard optimist, might be caught singing out loud when she is not writing or on a flight!” Her work featuring on Climate Tracker is “Clean cooking could change the lives of women in Nigeria”.
Robert Kibet from Kenya is a freelance journalist who has published in The Guardian (UK), Inter Press Service (IPS), In-Depth News (IDN), Equal Times, Ubuntu Times and Farm Radio International (FRI), Thomson Reuters Foundation, News Deeply, Deutche Welle (DW) and The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN).
His publications listed on Climate Tracker are: Farming in Kenya as a climate change solution; Locusts and COVID-19: Africa braces for a double blow; Floods in East Africa threaten the fight against COVID-19 and “Recovery lending” helps disaster-stricken African farmers get back on track.
An award-winning journalist from Egypt, Ahmed Sabaa El-Lail, has published many articles on environmental, climate, energy and water issues. He is a beneficiary of the French Agency for the Media Development program.
He has a report published by Climate Tracker in Arabic: (Because of the shift towards renewable energy… Egypt cancels two coal projects).
Noah Omuya, a two-time winner of the Media Challenge Awards in Uganda (2018 – Best Feature Story award: 2019- Best Climate Change Photography Award), is the CEO for Aica Communications Ltd, a media company running an online website www.aica.co.ug with focus on stories from the less reported sub-regions of Teso and Karamoja, and the slum areas in Uganda. Omuya made his debut at Climate Tracker with “Clean energy in Uganda championed by youth”.
Lungelo Ndhlovu is an award-winning freelance multimedia journalist based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He specializes in news writing, photography and video production, covering major news, features and local events for various media organizations. He also researches and writes about news stories on digital platforms and visual journalism. He contributes Feature stories for Zimbabwe Papers Organisation (The Chronicle). Ndhlovu is also a fellow of Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF). A‘ Following the Aid Money’ Investigative Reporting Program Alumni (2016)
Six of his reports have been published by Climate Tracker: Solar energy in Zimbabwe is a new frontier; Charcoal briquettes deliver 50% more heat for each dollar spent than wood logs; Solar energy: power for rural development; Climate change already impacts Africa, will not wait on diplomats; Biogas burns bright in most rural homes in Zimbabwe and Youth’s action for climate change and mitigation strategies in Zimbabwe.
Diana Taremwa Karakire is a freelance journalist based in Uganda. She is passionate about environmental issues and writes on climate change, renewable energy, food security and human rights. Her work has been published by Equal Times, Africa Business Magazine, Biofuels International Magazine and the Earth Journalism Network. Find her tweeting @TaremwaD. She made entry into Climate Tracker with “Electric buses set to transform public transport and reduce air pollution in Kampala”.
Charles Pensulo is a freelance journalist based in Blantyre, Malawi covering topics such as climate change, food security, human rights, global development and governance. His work has been published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the Guardian Global Development Professionals Network and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Impatient Optimists blog.
He entered Climate Tracker with “Forests in Malawi are disappearing; saving the island in the sky: Malawi residents protect trees in the Mulanje mountain region”.
Daniel Samson is a data journalist in Tanzania. He specializes in business, environment, education and data reporting. He is dedicated to reporting solution-based digital stories that help people and businesses to make decisions. His debut story on Climate Tracker is E-waste law is an urgent priority in Tanzania.
Allan Mungai Ngige is a journalist with The Standard in Kenya. Ngige also contributes contents to Kenya Television Network, Standard Digital Entertainment (SDE) and Kenyans. He writes on politics, governance and development. Among his latest contents are: Mkapa helped pull Kenya from the edge of the abyss after 2007 polls; Israel hints at plans to revive food project; Mkapa: Kenya declares three days of mourning, flags to fly half-mast and PSVs change seats to beat COVID rules.
