ICFJ, wikimedia celebrate award-winning PUNCH journalist, others

Three African journalists, including The PUNCH’s sports correspondent, Abiodun Adewale, have been recognised by the International Center for Journalists in partnership with Wikimedia Foundation, for outstanding reporting that expands public knowledge about Africa through the 2026 Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards.

Nigeria emerged strongly in the competition, with two journalists Rakiya Muhammad and Adewale securing first and second place honours for stories on migration and women’s cricket respectively, while Kenya’s Angeline Ochieng received an honourable mention for her reporting on maternal health.

Announcing the winners, ICFJ said the awards recognised journalism that helped broaden understanding of Africa’s diverse experiences, particularly stories focusing on women, youth, arts, culture, heritage and sports.

Muhammad claimed the top prize for her RM Times report, West Africa’s Borderless Women, which documents the long-standing migration of women from Ejigbo in Osun State to Côte d’Ivoire in search of economic opportunities.

The story highlights how generations of women built thriving businesses in Abidjan while maintaining strong cultural and economic ties with their hometown.

The second-place award went to Adewale of The PUNCH for his special report on Nigeria’s U-19 women’s cricket team.

His report chronicled the Junior Female Yellow Greens’ journey to the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, highlighting the growing popularity and future potential of cricket in Nigeria.

Kenya’s Angeline Ochieng earned an honourable mention for her Daily Nation investigation into former traditional birth attendants who now encourage pregnant women to seek hospital deliveries, contributing to reductions in maternal and neonatal deaths in rural communities.

ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi said the awards underscore the important relationship between journalism and Wikipedia.

“Journalism and Wikipedia need each other. Wikipedia’s volunteer editors rely on independent reporting to build a more complete knowledge base, and journalists benefit from the reach that Wikipedia provides.

“These awards recognise that relationship and the African journalists who are making our digital information ecosystems stronger,” Moshavi said.

The Wikimedia Foundation also stressed the importance of African reporting in improving global knowledge.

“Wikipedia is the largest encyclopedia ever assembled, but it is far from complete. Having stories written by Africans about the issues they care about is vital to ensuring the encyclopedia is representative of many experiences and perspectives.

We celebrate the three journalists who have received the Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards and thank them for making this kind of reporting possible,” the foundation said.

According to ICFJ, the winning entries were selected from 320 submissions representing 40 African countries. The final winners were chosen by a panel comprising African civil society leaders, ICFJ and Wikimedia staff, and members of the Wikipedia community.

The first and second-place winners will receive cash prizes in recognition of their outstanding contributions to journalism.