Two journalists from The Liberalist, Abdullah Tijani and Shereefdeen Ahmad, emerged among Africa’s most celebrated young reporters on Wednesday night after securing top honours at the 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards, organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Abuja.
Managing Editor Abdullah Tijani won the Best Fact-Check (Anglophone) award under the Kwame Kari-Kari Fact-Checking Fellowship category. His work was commended for its precision, depth, and unwavering commitment to accuracy, qualities CJID described as crucial in countering the rising wave of misinformation across Africa.
According to the organisers, Tijani’s fact-checks shows “a deep dedication to protecting information integrity, strengthening democratic discourse, and promoting a more responsible public sphere.”
Tijani said the recognition reinforces his resolve to pursue truth-driven journalism.
“This award has strengthened my belief in shaping a better society by holding firmly to the truth,” he said.
Also honoured was The Liberalist staff writer Shereefdeen Ahmad, who clinched the Alfred Opubor Next-Gen Award for his investigative report, “In Sokoto, Rural Dwellers Left Behind as Health Facilities Rot.” The story, which exposes the deepening health infrastructure collapse in rural Sokoto communities, was adjudged the best among all entries in the category.
Reflecting on the win, Ahmad described the competition as intense but inspiring, noting that awards like this push young journalists to refine their craft and pursue more impactful storytelling.
CJID hailed Ahmad’s work for “amplifying neglected voices, exposing the realities of abandoned healthcare infrastructure, and demonstrating the essential role journalism plays in driving accountability and social development.”
The Excellence in Journalism Awards, held during CJID’s annual Media Development Conference, celebrate outstanding reporting by students and professional journalists across Africa.
Categories include fact-checking, community reporting, climate and environmental journalism, gender reporting, health, and other development-focused beats.
