Nigeria’s Amina Yuguda emerges as winner of 2017 BBC World News Komla award

In the spirit of felicitation, Africa celebrates Nigeria’s Amina Yuguda as she emerged winner of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award 2017. While reacting to award feat, the Nigerian journalist and news presenter on local network Gotel Television disclose in a statement that the award marked a turning point in her life. “When I got the call it was at work, my life changed from that point,” Yuguda said.

According to AllAfrica News Post, Amina Yuguda winning puts her forward as the third recipient of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award. For those conversant with the News, it will be recalled that Amina is known for reporting on high-profile news stories, including the Boko Haram insurgency. Thus, it is reported that she has impressed the judge panel with her story-telling and her ability to convey complex ideas in a way that resonates with a wide audience.

It is further reported that Yuguda will start a three-month placement at the BBC in London in September. According to her, she described the award a “huge honour”. Adding that she was overwhelmed to discover her stories were deserving such attention.  “I was overwhelmed with joy. Storytellers have always had an important role in Africa… this is what defines us. Today journalists are taking on that responsibility,” she said.

Furthermore, Amina is excited to work at the BBC, given her understanding of the corporation’s impact among pastoralists in her hometown. In her application she said: “With little or no formal education, my countrymen can hold their own in a variety of topics, including the Trump presidency in America, North Korea’s defiance, Russia’s foreign relations under Putin, and more.”

BBC World Service Group Director Francesca Unsworth said Yuguda was a worthy winner. “To find someone who possesses many of Komla’s qualities is something for us to celebrate, and we are very excited about working with Amina,” Unsworth said.

The award was established to honour Komla Dumor, an exceptional Ghanaian broadcaster and presenter for BBC World News, who died suddenly aged 41 in 2014.

Journalists from across the continent can apply for the award, which aims to uncover and promote fresh talent from Africa. The award is given to outstanding individuals living and working in Africa, who combine strong journalism skills, on-air flair, and an exceptional talent in telling African stories with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.

Commenting on the award, Khadija Patel, editor-in-chief of South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper said “Komla Dumor’s work touched so many of us. He was loved by those who knew him, but he was also respected by so many more. His work remains testimony to the strength of African journalism and I’m delighted to be able to honour his memory.”

Previous winners of the Komla Dumor Award are Ugandan news anchor Nancy Kacungira and Nigerian business journalist Didi Akinyelure.