馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
PUNCH journalist Abiodun Adewale and two others honored with Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
PUNCH journalist Abiodun Adewale, Nigerian freelance journalist Rakiya Muhammad, and Kenyan journalist Angeline Ochieng have been recognized with the 2026 Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards. Organized by the International Centre for Journalists ICFJ in partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation, these awards celebrate journalists who produce well-researched articles that can serve as reliable sources for Wikipedia. Rakiya Muhammad received the first prize for her report, "West Africa鈥檚 Borderless Women: Inside the Yoruba Sisterhood Linking Nigeria and C么te d鈥橧voire," which detailed the migration of women from Ejigbo, Osun State, to Ivory Coast and their impact on Abidjan's markets and economic ties. Abiodun Adewale secured second place for his feature, "Breaking boundaries: How Nigeria鈥檚 U-19 women are rewriting cricket history," chronicling the rise of Nigeria鈥檚 Junior Female Yellow Greens. Angeline Ochieng of Nation Media Group received a special mention for her report, "The Converts: How Reformed Midwives Are Ending Maternal Deaths," which examined how former traditional birth attendants in rural Kenya advocate hospital deliveries to reduce maternal mortality. The awards received 320 entries from journalists across 40 African countries. ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi highlighted the symbiotic relationship between journalism and Wikipedia, while Wikimedia Foundation鈥檚 Chief Communications Officer Anusha Alikhan emphasized the need for more African stories to improve the con
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadTop leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province ISWAP and 76 foot soldiers, along with their families, have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Nigeria's North East region. Captain Muhammad Goni, the Acting Military Information Officer for Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai, announced this development. He stated that the insurgents abandoned their enclaves and surrendered due to sustained military pressure. The surrendered individuals, including key members of the terrorist network, are currently undergoing profiling, debriefing, and other established procedures. This surrender highlights the impact of Operation Hadin Kai's offensive, which aims to dismantle terrorist strongholds, disrupt their command and logistics, and diminish their operational capabilities. Goni emphasized that these operational gains demonstrate the effectiveness of the Nigerian military's counter-terrorism strategy, which combines combat operations, intelligence-led engagements, and coordinated efforts with partners. He affirmed Operation Hadin Kai's commitment to defeating terrorism and restoring peace and security in the North East.
American actress and singer Teyana Taylor and hip-hop duo Clipse each won three awards at the 2026 BET Awards held in Los Angeles. Taylor received Best Actress, Video Director of the Year, and the Fashion Vanguard Award, in addition to the Icon of the Year award. Clipse secured Album of the Year for "Let God Sort 鈥楨m Out," Best Group, and Best Collaboration for "Chains & Whips" with Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar also won Best Male Hip Hop Artist for the ninth time, and Kehlani took home Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Video of the Year for "Folded." British singer Olivia Dean won Best New Artist, while Cardi B was named Best Female Hip Hop Artist. Leon Thomas won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. In film, "Sinners" won Best Movie, and Michael B. Jordan received Best Actor. Ms. Lauryn Hill was honored with the Living Legend Icon Award, and Sylvia Rhone received the Ultimate Icon Award. Jazlyn Guerra of Jazzy鈥檚 World TV won the YoungStars Award.
South Korea's early exit from the World Cup has ignited widespread anger and demands for significant changes within the country's football leadership. The team, semi-finalists in 2002, failed to advance past the first round after a surprising 1-0 loss to South Africa. This outcome led to coach Hong Myung-bo's resignation and raised questions about captain Son Heung-min's international future. President Lee Jae Myung criticized "incompetent people" and apologized to the nation, reflecting intense public discontent with South Korean football officials. Former captain Park Ji-sung commented that the outcome was predictable and urged a re-evaluation of past lessons. The Korea Football Association KFA faced scrutiny over Hong's reappointment and its transparency. Hong, who returned to the role in July 2024, was criticized for dropping Son Heung-min in the crucial match against South Africa. Lee Chun-soo, a member of the 2002 World Cup team, described the situation as a "message to change." KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, who previously announced his intention to resign after the tournament, also faced significant criticism during his 13-year tenure, including attempts to pardon players banned for match-fixing. The future of captain Son, who turns 34 next month, remains uncertain, as he had previously hinted at international retirement. Park Ji-sung emphasized the need to learn from past mistakes to build a better future for South Korean football.