By Seye Joseph
@Seyetweets
Obinna Emelike of Business Day Newspaper and Olatunji Olalade of The Nation Newspaper have won the 2014 CNN Multichoice African Journalists Award in the Culture and Health categories respectively.
They emerged winners along with others at the Gala Awards ceremony held at Mlimani City Conference Centre, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on October 18.
Emelike was honoured for his entry titled ‘The roads between us…..a journey across Nigeria’ based on a travel and culture story of two Africans from different parts of the continent coming together to explore northern Nigeria.
It was written as a first-hand account, much like a diary, full of humour and life.
Emelike story shows the beauty of Northern Nigeria to his new friend without highlighting the political challenges the area faces.
” The author has a lovely way of making fun of himself –whether it is for the lack of his knowledge of this area or lack of the local language. A truly fun and delightful tale of Africans coming together and discovering their culture, ” the judges said in the citation for Emelike.
Ololade’s story titled: “This marriage will kill me – Tragedy of Nigeria’s child brides” according to the citation for him, provides the challenge of making often complicated and technical issues understandable and readable.
” He produced a moving account of Nigeria’s child brides and a close look at the devastating medical and personal implications of forcing young teenagers to marry much older men.
“The account is a major story on a widespread problem written with a deep sense of humanity, and an excellent attention to detail. The medical issues are set out with clarity and the result leaves one with a tangible sense of the horrors of this practice and the long-term trauma.”
Other Nigerians who were also recognized with Certificates of Commendation among other fourteen journalists who also won awards are Ben Ezeamalu and Emmanuel Ogala of Premium Times, and Bayo Olupohunda, a Columnist with Punch Newspaper.
Kenyan journalist Joseph Mathenge claimed the overall prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2014 Awards Ceremony.
Mathenge was awarded the overall ‘CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year’ Award for his work ‘Images of Terror’, which appeared in Kenyan daily print newspaper The Standard and was chosen from entries spanning 38 nations across the African continent.
The article documents the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya, when the mall was attacked by unidentified gunmen in September 2013.
In his words, Mathenge said “It’s a great honor, and I’m humbled to receive this award. All finalists who are here deserve this award. I hope it will motivate men, women and children of good will all over the world to fight terrorism. Memories fade with time, but pictures don’t. We felt it necessary to capture each and every moment so that generations to come may see the horror.”
The President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete Nico Meyer, the CEO MultiChoice Africa, Nico Meyer and SVP International Newsgathering TV and Digital, CNN International, Deborah Rayner, presented Mathenge with the Award at a Gala Awards ceremony.
