Founding Chairperson of the Nigeria AMR Media Alliance (NAMA), Ojoma Akor
Nigerian journalists have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) reporting following the announcement of winners of the Global AMR Media Awards (GAMA) and the inaugural Nigeria AMR Media Awards (NAMA).
The awards were announced on Wednesday, November 11, during the 6th Annual Global Media Forum on AMR.
The awards recognize journalists whose reporting has helped raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing public health challenges threatening human and animal health, food security, and global health systems.
The inaugural NAMA Awards represent a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen specialized health and science journalism in Nigeria, particularly reporting on the growing threat of drug-resistant infections and the need for coordinated action across human, animal and environmental health sectors.
A total of 96 entries were submitted from Nigeria for the GAMA and inaugural NAMA awards, representing one-fourth of the submissions.
NAMA was also applauded for its impressive performance across all award categories.
Kazeem Biriowo of the Nigerian Tribune emerged as the first prize winner; Julian Adetinuyo of News Scope Africa won the second prize, while Mariam Ile-yemi of Premium Times won the third prize for the inaugural NAMA Awards.
Other winners in the special mention category for the NAMA Awards are Folashade Akpan of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chioma Obinna (Vanguard), Helen Oji Emmanuel (Blueprint), Fatima Saka ( DistinctNews ), Chinyere Okorafor (Nigeria Health Times), Laide Akinboade (Daily Asset), and Odimmegwa John Peter (New Africa Horizon)
The first-, second-, and third-prize winners for NAMA award will be awarded certificates and cash gifts.
The cash prizes for the NAMA awards will be presented with support from the Art for Health Initiative in Nigeria, a non-profit.
Other NAMA members who won various categories of the GAMA awards are:
Reporting on the 5th High-level Ministerial Conference on AMR Category:
-Annabel Nwachukwu (FRCN) 1st Prize
-Edward Samuel Ikpete (VON) Second Prize.
-Doris Obinna (The Sun) Third Prize
Alice Etuka (The Fact Daily) Special Mention
People’s Reporting Category
Isioma Appiah-Yeboah of Clean Beat Radio won the 1st Prize, while Princess Ekwi-Ajide of Anambra Broadcasting Service ( ABS), Smith Nwokocha of Port Harcourt Wakawaka Blog and Chioma Vivian James of True Verdict won the special mention prize.
Patience Ihejirika of Leadership newspaper and Benedict Ifeanyi Chukwu of Kaftan TV also won the special mention prizes for the Africa category of the GAMA awards.
NAMA celebrates a new milestone in Nigerian journalism
Speaking after the announcement, Founding Chairperson of the Nigeria AMR Media Alliance (NAMA), Ojoma Akor, congratulated the winners and described the inaugural awards as an important step toward strengthening the quality, depth, and impact of AMR reporting in Nigeria.
Akor said: “The inaugural NAMA Awards represent an important milestone for health and science journalism in Nigeria. For too long, antimicrobial resistance has received insufficient attention in our newsrooms, despite its enormous implications for public health, healthcare delivery, food security and national development.
“These awards are not simply about celebrating individual journalists. They recognize the power of journalism to make an invisible public health threat visible, translate complex scientific evidence into accessible information, amplify the experiences of affected communities and hold institutions accountable.
“We congratulate all the winners and nominees. Their work demonstrates that Nigerian journalists can play a critical role in shaping public understanding and strengthening the national response to antimicrobial resistance.
“As an alliance, we remain committed to building the capacity of journalists, encouraging investigative and solutions-oriented reporting, and ensuring that AMR receives the sustained attention it deserves.”
Chidera Rosecamille Aneke, Founder of Art for Health Initiative, said, ” AMR is one of our organization’s focal areas, and we are glad to support the NAMA awards in order to push innovative storytelling to communicate AMR in ways the audience can understand.”
She said the initiative works at the intersection of storytelling, media, and the arts to drive public understanding and action on critical health issues like antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“Through this support, it aims to elevate impactful, innovative, solutions-driven journalism, with the outstanding stories recognized for the NAMA,” she said.
Recognition for Nigerian journalism on the global stage
The Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA) Awards recognize outstanding media contributions to raising awareness and promoting action against antimicrobial resistance across different regions of the world.
Including the Nigeria AMR Media Awards as a national chapter initiative provides an opportunity to recognize local reporting excellence while connecting Nigerian journalists to a growing international network of media professionals working to address AMR.
Chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance, Shobha Shukla, said:
“My heartiest congratulations to the media of Nigeria who contributed to the success of the 3rd Edition of GAMA Media Awards. Credit goes to Ojoma Akor, the founding Chairperson of the Nigeria Chapter of GAMA, for shining a spotlight on the ravages of AMR and for strengthening the media’s efforts to address and control AMR.
“AMR is not just a medical or scientific issue; it is a societal and development challenge. We cannot win the fight against AMR in laboratories and hospitals alone. We need an informed public, accountable governments, and responsible practices across human, animal, and environmental health.
“The media has the power to connect these dots, amplify the voices of affected communities and turn awareness into action. That is why media engagement is not an optional component of the AMR response—it is indispensable to its success. Also, media must move beyond reporting AMR as a health news issue. It must help build a public movement for responsible antimicrobial use and stronger health systems.
“Please keep up the great work you all are doing to help make AMR a public priority before it becomes an irreversible crisis.”
Media critical to Nigeria’s AMR response
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond effectively to medicines, making infections increasingly difficult to treat and raising the risks associated with routine medical procedures, surgery and other essential healthcare interventions.
Nigeria has taken steps to strengthen its response by implementing its National Action Plan on AMR, surveillance activities, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control, and collaboration among stakeholders across the One Health sectors.
However, sustained public awareness, stronger policy implementation, adequate financing, research, and effective communication remain essential.
NAMA believes journalists have a strategic role in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge, government policies, and public understanding.
The alliance will continue to work with government institutions, development partners, research organizations, professional associations, and media organizations to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian journalists to report on antimicrobial resistance.
Akor called on government agencies, development partners, health professionals, researchers and civil society organizations to deepen their engagement with journalists and support independent, evidence-based reporting on AMR.
NAMA congratulates all the winners, nominees and participating journalists and reaffirms its commitment to making antimicrobial resistance a sustained priority in Nigeria’s media and public health conversations.
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