For the second time in a row, a Nigerian, Amina Yuguda has won BBC’s World News Komla Dumor Award.
The Komla Dumor award was established to honor African journalists who are making a difference. On her win, the media personality said this:
“I was overwhelmed with joy. Storytellers have always had an important role in Africa… this is what defines us. Today journalists are taking on that responsibility.”
Not much at this point is known but these are interesting facts about the BBC winner that you should know.
1. She is Nigerian
Amina Yududa hails from Yola, Adamawa state, northern part of Nigeria.
2. Local News Anchor
Amina Yuguda is a news presenter on a local network, Gotel Television. As a keen observer and talented communicator, Amina does an incredible job of relaying both local and international news to her grass-root audience.
Given her location, the northern news anchor often makes reports on Boko Haraminsurgency and the state of security affairs in the northeast.
Thanks to her storytelling skills, her audience have ease of understanding even the most complex of information relayed to them.
“With little or no formal education, my countrymen can hold their own in a variety of topics, including the Trump presidency in America, North Korea’s defiance, Russia’s foreign relations under Putin, and more.”
Amina is passionate about telling stories from the African perspective.
3. 3-month Placement At BBC Headquarters
In line with the BBC award tradition, winners get a three-month placement at BBC Headqarters in London. Amina will start hers in September.
During this time, the winners develop their journalism skills and acquire a wealth of sophisticated and new broadcasting skills.
Attesting to this last year’s winner, business journalist, Didi Akinyelure says that her placement experience has been totally unforgettable and worth the while.
“It has been completely life-changing for me.”
“You get intensive training in journalism – everything from presenting, to editing, to writing, to telling the story, to understanding BBC ethics.”
Brief History Of The BBC’s World News Komla Dumor Award
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award was initiated to honor the memory of a notable late business journalist, Komlar Dumor.
Komlar was a Ghanaian journalist who worked for BBC World News and was the main presenter of its programme Focus on Africa (Wikipedia). He died of a cardiac arrest on January 18, 2014 in London, aged 41.
At the time of his death, Dumor was the only West African newsreader on BBC World News.
Peter Horrocks, BBC’s global news director described Komla as “a leading light of African journalism – committed to telling the story of Africa as it really is.”
“Komla developed his own unique on air style, seamlessly moved between TV and radio and influenced Africa coverage across the BBC.”
Didi Akinyelure, a Nigerian journalist was honored with the award in 2016. The year before was Uganda’s news anchor, Nancy Kacungira.
In February, BBC made a call for journalists across Africa to apply for the 2017 edition of the award. The award is dedicated to discovery and promotion of fresh talents from Africa.
Amina Yuguda was one of many African journalist who applied but her storytelling expertise set her apart from the rest.
