Tribune senior reporter wins first prize in Nigeria AMR Media Awards

Senior Reporter of the Nigerian Tribune, Kazeem Biriowo, has emerged winner of the first prize in the inaugural Nigeria AMR Media Awards (NAMA), in recognition of his outstanding reporting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Biriowo clinched the top position ahead of Julian Adetinuyo of News Scope Africa, who won the second prize, and Mariam Ile-yemi of Premium Times, who emerged third in the awards organised by the Nigeria AMR Media Alliance (NAMA).

The winners were announced on Wednesday, at the 6th Global Media Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, alongside recipients of the Global AMR Media Awards (GAMA), which recognise journalists contributing to public awareness and action against the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.

The inaugural NAMA Awards mark a significant step towards strengthening specialised health and science journalism in Nigeria, particularly reporting on antimicrobial resistance and its implications for human, animal and environmental health.

Nigeria recorded an impressive performance in the awards, accounting for 96 entries, representing about one-quarter of the total submissions received for the GAMA and inaugural NAMA awards.

Other Nigerian journalists recognised in the NAMA special mention category include Folashade Akpan of the News Agency of Nigeria, Chioma Obinna of Vanguard, Helen Oji Emmanuel of Blueprint, Fatima Saka of DistinctNews, Chinyere Okorafor of Nigeria Health Times, Laide Akinboade of Daily Asset and Odimmegwa John Peter of New Africa Horizon.

The first-, second- and third-prize winners will receive certificates and cash prizes, with the financial rewards supported by the Art for Health Initiative, a non-profit organisation.

In other categories of the Global AMR Media Awards, Nigerian journalists also recorded notable successes.

In the Reporting on the 5th High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR category, Annabel Nwachukwu of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) won first prize, while Edward Samuel Ikpete of Voice of Nigeria (VON) came second and Doris Obinna of The Sun won third prize.

For the People’s Reporting category, Isioma Appiah-Yeboah of Clean Beat Radio emerged first prize winner and Racheal Abujah, the Senior Public Health Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria clinged the second prize winner, while Princess Ekwi-Ajide of Anambra Radio Corporation, Smith Nwokocha of Port Harcourt WakaWaka and Chioma Vivian James received special mentions.

Patience Ihejirika of Leadership newspaper and Benedict Ifeanyi Chukwu of Kaftan TV also received special mentions in the Africa category of the GAMA awards.

Speaking after the announcement, the Founding Chairperson of NAMA, Ojoma Akor, congratulated the winners, describing the inaugural awards as an important milestone in strengthening the quality and impact of health and science journalism in Nigeria.

Akor said antimicrobial resistance had not received adequate attention in newsrooms despite its serious implications for public health, healthcare delivery, food security and national development.

She said the awards were not merely intended to celebrate individual journalists but also to demonstrate the role of journalism in making complex public health threats understandable, amplifying the experiences of affected communities and holding institutions accountable.

According to her, Nigerian journalists have a critical responsibility to shape public understanding and strengthen the country’s response to antimicrobial resistance through investigative and solutions-oriented reporting.

“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,” she said.

Also speaking, the Founder of Art for Health Initiative, Chidera Rosecamille Aneke, said the organisation supported the NAMA awards because of its commitment to using innovative storytelling to improve public understanding of antimicrobial resistance.

She said the initiative operated at the intersection of storytelling, media and the arts to promote awareness and action on critical health issues.

Aneke added that the support was aimed at recognising impactful and solutions-driven journalism capable of communicating complex health issues in ways audiences could understand.

Similarly, the Chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance, Shobha Shukla, congratulated Nigerian journalists for their contributions to the third edition of the GAMA Media Awards.

Shukla commended Akor for establishing the Nigerian chapter and strengthening media engagement on antimicrobial resistance.

She described AMR as more than a medical or scientific challenge, noting that it also had wider social and development implications requiring coordinated action from governments, communities and stakeholders across human, animal and environmental health.

According to her, the media has an indispensable role in connecting scientific evidence with public understanding, amplifying affected communities’ voices and promoting responsible antimicrobial use.

She urged journalists to move beyond treating AMR as a specialised health reporting issue and help build a broader public movement for stronger health systems and responsible use of medicines.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to withstand medicines designed to eliminate them or stop their spread, making infections increasingly difficult to treat.

The development threatens the effectiveness of essential medicines and increases the risks associated with routine medical procedures, surgeries and other healthcare interventions.

Nigeria has continued efforts to address the challenge through the implementation of its National Action Plan on AMR, surveillance activities, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control, and collaboration among stakeholders under the One Health approach.

However, sustained public awareness, stronger policy implementation, adequate financing, research and effective communication remain critical to containing the threat.

NAMA said journalists had a strategic role in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge, government policies and public understanding.

The alliance pledged to continue working with government institutions, development partners, research organisations, professional associations and media organisations to improve the capacity of Nigerian journalists to report on antimicrobial resistance.

Akor also urged government agencies, development partners, health professionals, researchers and civil society organisations to strengthen their engagement with journalists and support independent, evidence-based reporting on AMR.

She congratulated all winners, nominees and participating journalists, reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to making antimicrobial resistance a sustained priority in Nigeria’s media and public health conversations.