Nigeria’s Amina Yuguda from north-east Nigeria is the winner of the third BBC World News Komla Dumor Award.
Yuguda is a local reporter with Nigeria’s Gotel Television, where she has been reporting on some of the high-profile news stories including covering the Boko Haram insurgency. Thanks to the award, she will embark on a three-month placement with BBC News in London this September.
“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 expressed her excitement to work for the BBC World News in London. Coming from a place of extensive understanding of how BBC as a broadcaster works and the impact it has had on the pastoralist communities in her hometown. In her application, Yuguda wrote:
“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.”
Yuguda impressed the panelist with her story-telling ability. She was able to convey complex ideas in a manner that resonates well with a broad range of audience.
Francesca Unsworth, the BBC World Service Group director, had praises for Yuguda:
“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.”
About the Komla Dumor Award
BBC started the Komla Dumor award in honor of the late Komla Dumor, a former presenter for BBC World News who died suddenly at the age of 41 in 2014. Previous winners of the Award include:
Ø Nancy Kacungira, a new anchor from Uganda
Ø Didi Akinyelure, a business journalist from Nigeria
