* Now publisher/Editor of Daily Economy
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Chuks Udo Okonta
Pan African reinsurer, Continental Reinsurance has announced winners of the 9th Pan African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards at the organisation’s annual CEO Summit held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Nike Popoola, a former Assistant Editor with Nigeria’s Punch Newspaper, emerged as the overall winner for the 2024 awards and has received a cash prize of US$2,000 for her exemplary print story titled “After mobile phone adoption challenges, underwriters break barriers with innovations.”
This insightful piece sheds light on how insurance companies have successfully navigated challenges in mobile phone adoption and are now making significant strides in growth.
Popoola, who has won the overall best award two times, cannot enter for it again, but has been announced to become a member of the judging panel.
Multiple award winning journalist, Popoola, is now the Editor of Daily Economy, an online news media for accurate and reliable news.
In addition to the overall winner, category champions, 1st and 2nd Runners-Up in English, French, and Arabic categories have been honored with cash prizes of US$1,500, US$1,000, and US$500 respectively, along with trophies, in recognition of their outstanding submissions.
These exceptional winners were chosen from among 121 entrants from across Africa this year.
Submissions spanned 18 African countries, encompassing Francophone, Anglophone, and Arabic-speaking nations, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In the English Broadcast Category, Peter Wakaba, a business editor with KTN in Kenya, secured the top prize for his insightful story on insurance penetration in Kenya.
Highlighting factors contributing to the country’s low insurance penetration rate of just 2.3 per cent compared to the global average of six per cent, Wakaba’s report also explores measures aimed at reversing this trend.
In the English Broadcast Category, Peter Wakaba, a business editor with KTN in Kenya, secured the top prize for his insightful story on insurance penetration in Kenya.
Highlighting factors contributing to the country’s low insurance penetration rate of just 2.3 per cent compared to the global average of six per cent, Wakaba’s report also explores measures aimed at reversing this trend.
Popoola’s online story, “Life annuity stirs fresh competition” clinched the top award in the English Online Category.
Published in the Punch Newspaper, Popoola’s article delves into the significance of life annuity as an insurance product propelling sectoral growth and Nigeria’s contribution to Africa’s premium.
The English Print category award goes to Bbalewa Zyuulu. His piece ‘Insurance is not for the rich alone’ published in the Scoop Newspaper, tackles prevalent myths hindering citizens from seeking insurance services in Zambia.
Mahamadi Sebogo from Burkina Faso, a journalist with Sidwala, has been honored in the French category for his compelling story “Assurance des risques de la construction: une obligation légale en “souffrance”. The article sheds light on the violation of national legislation concerning construction risk insurance, particularly in the context of recurrent building collapses, emphasizing its causes, consequences, and assigning responsibilities.
Islam Abdelhameed Abdelmutlib Farahat has been awarded the top prize in the Arabic category for his story focused on developments within the Egyptian insurance industry over the past decade. Farahat’s piece addresses current challenges and the strategies in place to overcome them.
Additionally, in the spirit of nurturing journalistic talent, Zimbabwean insurance professional Taurai Craig Museka, who runs an online insurance blog has been recognised with the Dr. Femi Oyetunji Future Talent award. His entry published in the Chronicle, explores the role of trade credit insurers in maximizing the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Now in its 9th year, the awards celebrate journalistic excellence in reporting on insurance and reinsurance matters across various media platforms.
Nike Popoola
Award winners
English Broadcast Category
• Winner, Peter Wakaba, Kenya
• 1st Runners-up, Destiny Onyemihia, Nigeria
• 2nd Runners-up, Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman, Ghana
English Print Category
• Winner, Bbalewa Zyuulu, Zambia
• 1st Runners-up, Prosper Ndlovu, Zimbabwe
• 2nd Runners-up, Alfred Onyango, Kenya
English Online Category
• Winner, Nike Popoola, Nigeria
• 1st Runners-up, Isaac Wafula Khisa, Uganda
• 2nd Runners-up, Afeez Hanafi, Nigeria
• 2nd Runners-up, Samuel Sanya, Uganda
French Category
• Winner, Mahamadi SEBOGO, Burkina Faso
• 1st Runners-up, Oltas Yavis Teddy GOUDALO, Benin
• 2nd Runners-up, Daouda ZONGO, Burkina Faso
Arabic Category
• Winner, Islam Abdelhameed Abdelmutlib Farahat, Egypt
• 1st Runners-up, Mohamed Hamdy Ahmed Mahmoud, Egypt
• 2 Runners-up, El Hadi Issa, Egypt
