Lekan Otufodunrin read about the impact of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist award on the careers of past winners of the programme and was inspired to write the article for particularly journalists who have never applied for such awards.
When the founder of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Award Edward Boateng asked Joana Mantey of Ghana if she knew what winning the award will do to her career, she had no immediate answer.
With no answer forthcoming from Mantey, Boateng responded “it will open door”
Doors indeed opened for Mantey as got selected for the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship in the US after emerging as the first winner of the continental award.
According to Mantey in an article she contributed to the programme of the 2006 edition of the award, her selection for the fellowship was largely influenced by the CNN/Multichoice award. The fellowship gave her an opportunity to pursue course work at the University of Maryland, USA.
“I also interact with season journalists and other notable professionals. I get a chance to sharpen my skills and build on my leadership skills”
Apart from Mantey, some other previous winner of the award got opportunities to further their education.
They include Declan Okpalaeke of Nigeria who won the Nieman Fellowship in Harvard University, Manfred Ashiboe-Mensah, Ghana for MA in Ohio University, Kim Cloete, South Africa – Nieman Fellowship, Harvard University and Wanja Githinji, Kenya who was Knight Fellow at Standford University.
Angelo Kinyua of Kenya who won the 2005 edition said “being in the finalists’ programme was a whole new experience to him.
“I got to meet fellow journalists; top businessmen and top media executives and this helped me form a whole new network of contacts. That is invaluable, to say the least “he explained.
Beyond personal gains, Kinyua said, “People have stopped me in the streets to congratulate me and tell me that I am a source of inspiration to young people and also to African journalism “.
Sarah Kimani from Kenya winner of the 2005 Environment Award won a five-month fellowship at the American University of Paris by virtue of winning the general news Television Award in 2004.
“In five months that I was there, they organized three workshops where I had to talk about what it takes to win the prestigious award. A lot of journalism students also invited me in their classes to tell them about journalism in Africa and the award.
“The best and the most flattering of my experience in Paris as a ” CNN Ambassador ” was when I was called upon to give a talk alongside CNN’s Jim Bitter man, his wife Pat Thomson and two other former senior editors from Time Magazine, ” Kimai recalled.
For Ntai Bagshaw from Nigeria who won the 2005 Economics and Business Award, there comes a point in a man’s life when he believes he has achieved a remarkable feat.
“For me, winning the award’s Economy and Business Category is one,” Bagshaw said.