Amina Yuguda is the winner of the 2017 BBC World News Komla Dumor Award. The Komla Dumor Award was created to honor African journalists who make a difference.
Not much is known at this time, but these are interesting facts you should know about the BBC winner.
1 . She is Nigerian
Amina Yududa is from Yola in Adamawa State, a northern part of Nigeria.
2. Local newscaster
Amina Yuguda has been a news presenter in a local network, Gotel Television since 2012. An avid observer and talented communicator, Amina transmits both local and international news to her base.
Given their location, the northern newscaster often reports on Boko Haram uprisings and the state of security affairs in the Northeast. She has a mini documentary series called The Real Africa.
To start with, Amina attended a course at the BBC Academy. She then joins the BBC News teams – across TV, radio and online – giving her the opportunity to gain skills and experience across BBC News’ diverse platforms.
3. She first got her start at a radio station
A friend had told her about a radio station in Yola that hired journalists. Luckily she was hired and hasn’t looked back since.
4th Placement at BBC Headquarters
In keeping with the BBC Awards tradition, winners will receive a three-month internship at the BBC’s headquarters in London. Amina Yuguda started hers in September.
During this time, winners will develop their journalism skills and acquire a wealth of sophisticated and emerging broadcasting skills. Towards the end of her three-month internship, Amina will have the opportunity to travel to an African country with a leading BBC producer to cover a story for a global audience. The story is then broadcast on BBC platforms, reaching an audience of 348 million people around the world every week.
Didi Akinyelure, business journalist and last year’s winner, said her internship experience was absolutely unforgettable and worthwhile.
5. Your most interesting project
According to Amina, her most interesting project to date is the story she made on Koma – a small community in northern Adamawa. She said she never thought pre-colonial African communities existed until she visited Koma, where many of them still bear leaves (they wear no clothes).
6. Your vision and hope for the planet
That we can all learn to live in peace one day and accept each other’s differences. There is enough space for everyone in this world.
Brief History of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award was established to honor the memory of the notable late business journalist Komlar Dumor.
Komlar was a Ghanaian journalist working for BBC World News and the program’s main presenter was Focus on Africa (Wikipedia). He died of cardiac arrest in London on January 18, 2014, aged 41.
At the time of his death, Dumor was the only West African newsreader on BBC World News.
BBC Global News Director Peter Horrocks described Komla as a leading light in African journalism – determined to tell the story of Africa as it really is. According to him, Komla has developed an on-air style of his own that seamlessly switches between television and radio, influencing the African coverage of the BBC.
Nigerian journalist Didi Akinyelure was honored with the award in 2016. The year before it was the turn of Ugandan news anchor Nancy Kacungira.
In February, the BBC invited journalists across Africa to apply for the 2017 edition of the award. The award is dedicated to discovering and nurturing new talent from Africa.
Amina Yuguda was one of many African journalists to apply, but her storytelling expertise sets her apart from the rest, she impresses the jury with her storytelling and ability to convey complex ideas in a way that resonates with a wide audience.
The jury consists of Rachael Akidi, editor of the BBC Africa in Focus radio programme; Paul Royall, editor of BBC News at 6 and BBC News at 10 in the UK; and Khadija Patel, Editor-in-Chief of the South Africa Mail & Guardian newspaper.