19 yrs after: When will Nigeria host CNN/MultiChoice Awards?
Nigeria, the populous country, largest economy with vibrant press is yet to host the CNN/MultiChoice award which is in its 19th year. No official reason has been given by the organizers for keeping the hosting away from Nigeria in spite of the fact that Nigerian journalists have won several laurels in the awards.
An analyst thinks the reason for keeping the award away from Nigeria could border on security but another observer asked whether Nigeria could be insecure for 19 years since the award was instituted.
Nigerian media is one of the most vibrant in Africa. It probably has more print, broadcast and TV stations in Africa than any country on the continent.
In the last 19 years of the award, Nigeria has hosted major international events successfully, still the CNN/ MultiChoice award organizers are denying Nigeria the hosting right of the award. Officials of CNN and MultiChoice could not be reached for comments but an inside sources maintained insecurity as excusse. According to them, the 2014 was to hold in Nigeria but the Boko Haram atrocities and Ebola issue denied Nigeria the hosting. The 2014 was held in Tanzania.
BusinessDay’s Obinna Emelike and The Nation Newspaper’s Olatunji Olalade won awards at 2014 CNN MultiChoice African journalists awards held recently in Tanzania. In previous yearly editions, Nigerian journalists had participated and won awards
CNN and MultiChoice have used the awards to encourage, promote and recognise excellence in African journalism. The award started in the early nineties when Edward Boateng, then Regional Director of Turner Broadcasting (CNN’s parent company), was travelling around the African continent on business. During his travels, according to CNN, he became concerned about the lack of respect journalists received and he decided to try and help them gain recognition for their hard work and commitment.
“Working with Edward to launch the first competition were Gary Streiker, then CNN Nairobi Bureau Chief, the late esteemed photographer Mohamed Amin and the late Esom Alintah, then Secretary General of the African Business Roundtable.
The first Awards Ceremony took place in Ghana on August 11, 1995. There were six winners that year from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. No Awards Ceremony was held in 1996 due to the death of Mohamed Amin. Since then the awards have been held in various African countries except Nigeria.
Tony Maddox, executive Vice-president and managing director of CNN Internatinal said: “the passion which African journalists display for telling compelling and top class stories knows no bounds”. He reiterated CNN MultiChoice continued commitment to encouraging inspired journalistic excellence with these awards”
Collins Khumalo, President MultiChoice Africa was also quoted as saying that “We remain committed to the development of media in Africa and to giving recognition to outstanding journalists for their tireless effort and work in telling the African story. Our wish is to inspire all the finalists to use this opportunity to not only strive to become the best in Africa but to become the best in the world.”
The second ceremony was held in Johannesburg in March 1997. There were 10 winners from 7 countries. 2005 celebrated the 10th anniversary of the competition, renamed the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, recognising the new partnership with MultiChoice. A Portuguese speaking category was also launched that year. 2005’s ceremony was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya.
In 2006, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Award moved to Maputo, Mozambique. In 2007, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Award was held in Cape Town, South Africa.
In 2008, the awards celebrated their thirteenth year and were held in Accra, Ghana. 2009 awards was the fourteenth year of the awards which were held in Durban, South Africa. Tanzania, in 2014 hosted the award again, the first in 2009. At the prestigious event, Kenyan journalist Joseph Mathenge was awarded the overall ‘CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year’ Award for his work ‘Images of Terror’, which appeared in Kenyan daily print newspaper The Standard and was chosen from entries spanning 38 nations across the African continent.
The work documents the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya, when the mall was attacked by unidentified gunmen in September 2013.
Daniel Obi