By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

Two Nigerian journalists and a Kenyan reporter have won the prestigious Africa Knowledge Awards for outstanding journalism that highlights Africa’s development stories, with their reports on migration, youth sports and maternal health recognised for expanding public knowledge and promoting positive change across the continent.

The honours were announced under an Africa-focused journalism initiative supported by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), which celebrates compelling reporting that strengthens Africa’s digital knowledge ecosystem through verified and impactful journalism.

The winning entries were selected for uncovering underreported issues while highlighting the experiences, achievements and challenges of women and young people across the continent. The awards also recognise reporting on arts, culture, heritage, sports and social transformation.

Speaking on the awards, ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi emphasised the vital link between journalism and open knowledge platforms.

“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,” she said.

Nigeria’s Rakiya Muhammad emerged as the overall winner for an investigative report published in RM Times on the decades-long migration of women from Ejigbo, Osun State, to Côte d’Ivoire in search of economic opportunities.

Her report examined how the women have become a major force in the commercial life of Abidjan while strengthening economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. It also highlighted the role of diaspora remittances in supporting livelihoods and community development in Ejigbo.

The judges commended Muhammad, an award-winning freelance journalist with more than 20 years of experience, for drawing international attention to a migration story with significant socioeconomic implications.

The second prize went to Nigerian journalist Abiodun Adewale for his feature in The PUNCH on the rise of women’s youth cricket in Nigeria and the journey of the Junior Female Yellow Greens to the 2025 international youth cricket championship.

The report explored the team’s preparation, challenges and achievements while showcasing cricket as an emerging sport gaining momentum in a country where football dominates public attention.

According to the judges, the story helped reshape perceptions of cricket in Nigeria and documented the growing participation of girls in youth sports.

Kenyan journalist Angeline Ochieng received an Honourable Mention for her report in the Daily Nation on former traditional birth attendants in rural Kenya who have abandoned the practice and now advocate hospital deliveries.

Her investigation revealed how poor equipment, inadequate sanitation and limited training among traditional birth attendants contributed to preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. It also documented how former practitioners are encouraging expectant mothers to seek skilled medical care, leading to improved maternal health outcomes.

The organisers said the recognition of Muhammad, Adewale and Ochieng reflects the growing impact of African journalism in shaping global understanding of the continent through fact-based reporting that drives awareness, informs policy discussions and strengthens Africa’s presence in the world’s digital knowledge landscape.