By JKNewsMedia
THE CENTRE for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has announced the opening of entries for the 2025 edition of its Excellence in Journalism Awards, calling on journalists, fact-checkers, editors, and media organisations across West Africa to submit their work.
Now in its second year, CJID said the award celebrates outstanding reporting, fact-checking, and media innovation across the region, with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria.
New category for editors
A notable addition this year is the Editor of the Year Award, designed to spotlight editors whose behind-the-scenes contributions have strengthened newsroom standards and inspired excellence.
Reporters will nominate editors who worked on their stories, while nominated editors will also submit a self-assessment as part of the judging process.
Speaking on the award’s significance, Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director of CJID, said the prize honours journalists who play a vital role in strengthening democracy.
“At CJID, we believe journalism is central to democracy and development.
“Through this award, we are proud to celebrate the journalists, fact-checkers, editors, and students who continue to push boundaries and hold power to account across West Africa,” Babatunde stated.
Award categories
The 2025 awards will recognise exceptional work in the following categories:
Best Fact-check in West Africa
Best Health Reporting in West Africa
Best Climate Change Reporting in West Africa
Best Solutions Journalism Reporting in West Africa
Best Community Reporting in West Africa
Best Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
Best Reporting on Social Accountability
Editor of the Year Award
Eligibility and guidelines
According to CJID, the awards are open to journalists, fact-checkers, and media organisations in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Eligible entries must:
Be original work published or broadcast between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025
Be submitted once per applicant in only one category
Include English translations for non-English submissions
Entries already submitted for the 2024 edition are not eligible. Employees or relatives of CJID/DUBAWA, as well as CJID/DUBAWA-funded stories, are excluded from applying.
The deadline for submissions is midnight, September 30, 2025.
Judging and award ceremony
Entries will be reviewed in two stages: first by a panel of experts, and then by an independent board of judges drawn from journalism, media development, and civil society. Evaluation will focus on originality, quality, investigative rigour, and impact.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony closing the CJID Media and Development Conference 2025 in November, Abuja, Nigeria.
The chairperson of the planning committee, Kemi Busari, said this year’s edition reflects CJID’s ongoing commitment to excellence in journalism.
“Our goal is to ensure that these awards remain a benchmark of integrity, excellence, and innovation in journalism across the region.
“This year’s new category allows us to highlight the invisible but essential work of editors, which has often gone unnoticed,” Busari said.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through CJID’s online form via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVJCuBR9dCzHMlOyVwxXreqDd_5bqydvEWKgBvBFLzbPWp4w/viewform
