2 Nigerians Win CNN Awards

 Ugochukwu Ezeagwula   

Two Nigerian journalists, Emmanuel Mayah of The Sun newspapes and Pelu Awofeso, a freelance with Next newspaper were among the 19 winners of the 2010 CNN/ Multichoice African journalist of the year awards anounced in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday.

The awards were presented to the winners at the Victoria Hall of the Serena Conference Centre during a colourful ceremony witnessed by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, among oher dignitaries from all over Africa< Europe and the United States.
Mayah's investigative story on Nigerians and other Africans taking illegal routes to travel to Europe through Libya won him the award in the Print General News category. The story was ttled "Europe By Desert: Fears of African Migrants".
Awofeso won the Tourism award with his two stories titled: "The Biafra Bunkers" and ' City of God".

The overall award was however won by Sam Rogers, an executive producer Third Degree, a television station in South Africa. Her story titled "Curse of the Nobody People" which was focused on the plight of the albinos in Tanzania won her the award. The same story won her the Television Features award.
Other winners included Halima Kisule of Uganda (Environment), Kofi Akpabli from Ghana (Arts and Culture), Najlae Bembarek of Morocco (Francophone General News), Teresa Chirwa of Malawi (Health and Medical), the DispatchOnline Team from South Africa (Digital Journalism), and Mustafa Haji Abdinur of Somalia (Free press).

Other winners of the awards are Roseline Wangui and Charles Kariuki from Kenya (TV News bulletin ), Lucas Ledwaba from Soth Africa (HIV/AIDS), Alexandre Lebel Liboudo from Ivory Coast (Francophone General News, Print ), Kassim Mohammed from Kenya (Radio General News ), Francis Mugo Mwangi and Kaara Wainana of Kenya (Economic and Business), Boniface Mwangi of Kenya (Photography), Leon Ssenyange of Uganda (Sports) and Sebastiao Vemba from Angola (Portuguese General News),
The winners got their plaques, cash prizes and different gift but the overall winner will also get a laptop and a fellowship at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, UNited States