The Nile Basin Initiative together with partners has recognised 25 journalists for balanced reporting on Nile Cooperation and Nile Basin issues in the recent Nile Media Awards 2021 ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The awards were organised with support from the Federal German Government through GIZ. Partners included European Union, International Water Management Institute, Nile Basin Discourse, Media in Cooperation and Transition, IHE-Delft, Stockholm International Water Institute, Water Journalists Africa/InfoNile and the Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa.
The winners were evaluated and selected from a pool of more than 90 entries in Print, Radio, Television, Digital and Photography categories with two additional categories introduced in this 3rd edition; Best Collaborative Story and Best Female Entry.
Speaking during the ceremony that combined virtual and in-presence participation on May 7, 2021, the Nile Council of Ministers chairperson who is also Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Hon Dr Jeanne D’Arc Mujawamariya emphasised the critical role the media in the Nile Basin play in sharing information that is deemed important for Nile Cooperation.
“I take note that this awards ceremony is happening close to World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3. The theme for that day, ‘Information as a Public Good’ ties in with NBI’s efforts towards supporting science/knowledge-based decision making to monitoring, protecting and sustaining the common Nile Basin water resources. As an organisation that generates scientific knowledge and information, which is considered a public good, the role of the media in distributing the content, cannot be over emphasised,” she said.
She added: “I call upon Nile Basin journalists to distribute the knowledge and information generated by NBI in a factual and balanced manner. It is only by doing so that you will promote constructive cooperation on the Nile.”
The NBI Secretariat Executive Director, Prof. Seifeldin Hamad Abdalla, said, “We hope that these awards will serve as a reminder that accurate and constructive reporting plays a key role in fostering positive relationships among the Nile Basin states and people, regarding management and development of the common Nile Basin water resources.”
The goal of the Nile Media Awards is to promote increased, factual and balanced reporting on Nile cooperation and Nile Basin issues. The Nile Media Awards is a competition for journalists based in the NBI Member States and gives journalists an opportunity to showcase their best works that touch on cooperation in transboundary waters in the Nile Basin.
Winners in the different categories are:
Print
1st – Ronald Musoke (Uganda)
2nd – Rehab Abd Almohsen Bakr (Egypt)
3rd – Mactilda Seline Mbenywe (Kenya)
Digital
1st – Rehab Abd Almohsen Bakr (Egypt)
2nd – Felix Basiime (Uganda)
3rd – Bassem Aboualabass Mohamed (Egypt)
3rd – Pius Sawa (Kenya)
Radio
1st – Yves Rugira (Rwanda)
2nd – Sarah Natoolo (Uganda)
3rd – Waakhe Simon Wudu (South Sudan)
Television
1st – Yosra Mostafa (Egypt)
– Fabien Niyonizigiye (Burundi)
– Asmaa Gamal Abdelsattar (Egypt)
– Dagim Terefe Gesese (Ethiopia)
– Kevin Ogutu (Kenya)
– Sadiki Businge (Rwanda)
– Mohamed Ezeldin Hilali Bashir (Sudan)
– Joel Bebe Hillary (South Sudan)
– Akuot Chol Mayak (South Sudan)
– Mugume Davis Rwakaringi (Uganda)
2nd – Cynthia Wangui Gichiri (Kenya)
3rd – Kevin Ogutu (Kenya)
Photography
Asmaa Gamal Abdelsattar (Egypt)
Best Collaborarive Story
Fabien Niyonizigiye (Burundi)
Yosra Mostafa (Egypt)
Asmaa Gamal Abdelsattar (Egypt)
Dagim Terefe Gesese (Ethiopia)
Kevin Ogutu (Kenya)
Sadiki Businge (Rwanda)
Mohamed Ezeldin Hilali Bashir (Sudan)
Joel Bebe Hillary (South Sudan)
Akuot Chol Mayak (South Sudan)
Mugume Davis Rwakaringi (Uganda)
Best Female Entry
Rehab Abd Almohsen Bakr (Egypt)
The winners will receive cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $500 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively as well as plaques and certificates.
