Abdallah El-Kurebe – Vanguard Newspaper, Sokoto. Abdallah el-Kurebe is 47 years old. He is from a farming community in Kurebe village of Niger state (an agrarian state),Nigeria.He has been in the Journalism profession for 23 years reporting on various subjects for Hotline, National Echoes, Horizon, Just and PeopleMonthly news magazines as well as This Weekend, The Companion and Newspage newspapers. He presently reports for Vanguard newspaper as Sokoto state Correspondent and freelance for TheROAD and National Trail newspapers. He is married with children.
Abdulrashid M Kuraye – Nigeria Television Authority, Katsina. Abdulrashid Mohammed is from Kuraye Town, Charanchi, Katsina State, Nigeria. Graduating from the Federal Polytechnic Kaduna with a National Diploma in mass communication and a HND Mass Communication, he has worked as Assistant Information Officer and Supervisory Councillor in the Chanranchi Local Government and Katsina State correspondent for Leadership Newspaper. He is currently working with NTA Katsina.
Adejoke Odunayo Akanmu – The Guardian, Abuja. Hailing from Ogbomoso North Local Government, Adejoke attended Bowen University, obtained a BSc Mass Communication in 2007. She did her National Youth Service at Akwa Ibom State Newspaper, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, before joining Guardian Newspaper Abuja Bureau in March 2010, where she is serving as Agriculture Correspondent.
Augustina Armstrong O – Choice FM, Lagos.
Baraka Bashir – Freedom Radio, Kano.
Bassey Ita – The Sensor Newspaper, Akwa Ibom.
Bilikisu Ado Zango – Kano Radio Corporation.
Binta Lawan Umar – Freedom Radio Jigawa.
Cokey Ugonma Mary – Voice of Nigeria, Abuja. Ugonma Cokey is a Chief News Producer with Voice of Nigeria – Nigeria’s sole external broadcast station. She has worked with Voice of Nigeria for 18 years in different capacities, including as reporter, editor, producer and presenter. But currently she is the head of the online unit and edits and supervises the unit. She however started her career in print journalism before moving to television and radio. She report mainly on agric, climate change, environment and development related issues. Ugonma Cokey is an UNFCCC fellow and UNFCCC+COM fellow, a 2011 winner of the UNFCCC/CDM Africa Radio journalist contest and winner of the 2010 Farm Radio International script writing competition on healthy community and Best Commentary Writer News Directorate, 2002.
Elizabeth Achagh Torkwase – Harvest FM, FRCN Makurdi.
Eyo Charles David – Daily Trust, Calabar. Eyo Charles was born in Ijebu Ode in Ogun State but is from Akwa Ibom State. He speaks Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio, English and some Hausa. His higher education was at the Nigerian Institute of Commerce, Ketu followed by a two year programmes with the Writing School, Sussex, UK and the Business Training Institute, Manchester (Lagos study centres). He continues to pursue academic programmes with the International Institute of Journalism, affiliated to the University of Maiduguri. He started his journalism career in 1988 with Development Outlook Magazine, in Lagos, and has since worked for New World Magazine (Lagos), New Kingdom Trumpet (Calabar), Todaysports newspaper (Lagos), and Union newspaper (Uyo). He is currently with Media Trust Ltd publishers of the Daily Trust, Sunday Trust, and Weekly Trust. Eyo Charles has travelled extensively in West Africa. He is passionate about music, writing and travelling.
Hasana Salisu Abubakar – Freedom Radio, Kano.
Joseph Kingston – Pillar Newspaper, Calabar.
Akinwunmi Kole Dawodu – News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja.
Lawan Isa Bagwai – Radio Kano, Kano. Lawan Isa Bagwai was born in Kano State. He studied mass communication. He has been in broadcast journalism for several years and he is presently the head of the agricultural desk of the Kano State Radio Corporation. He has attended several workshops and conferences.
Mohammed Kandi – People’s Daily, Abuja. Born to the family of the late Alhaji Muhammad Saidu Kandi Mohammed Kandi is an indigene of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. He graduated from the famous Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State, with Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication. He has worked as a professional journalist at Vision FM and now with Peoples Media Limited, publisher of Peoples Daily Newspaper for four years.
Muawiya Bala Idris – Triumph Newspaper, Katsina. Mu’awuya Bala Idris was born in Kano State. A graduate of Bayero University Kano and holds a Bachelor degree in Linguistics (Hausa Language) he also holds a Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Journalism from International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) and Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic respectively. A seasoned newspaper reporter since 1993, he is currently a correspondent of Triumph newspaper in Katsina.
Odekina Friday Odekina – New Times, Tamale.
Onche Odeh – Daily Independent, Lagos.
Orsar Hembadoon Rosa – The Voice Newspaper, Makurdi. Orsar Hembadoon Rosa graduated from the Benue State University Makurdi, in the Department of Mass Communication in 2008 with BSc Hons Mass Communication. Thereafter, she went into mainstream journalism practice. She is currently working with Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation (BPPC), Makurdim, publishers of The Voice newspaper, in the Editorial Department as a reporter. She is the State agriculture correspondent.
Stella A Egberenede – Editor, The Epitome, Asaba, Delta State. Stella Egberenede was born in Lagos but her family hail from Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. She is the eldest in a family of seven. She holds a diploma in Mass Communication (1988) and a degree in English (2006). Stella publishes the Epitome Newsmagazine and Newspaper and the headquarters of her office is in Asaba, Delta State. She lives in Asaba with her husband and daughter.
Ugonabo Loretta – Aso Radio, Abuja.
2013 MEDIA FELLOWS
Blessing Abu – NTA International, Abuja. Blessing Cynthia Abu was born in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria in 1973 to Edo parents. Her tertiary education took her north to Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria where she bagged a BA(Hons) English/ Drama degree in 1998. Her journey in broadcasting began proper during her national youth service to the nation with the Ekiti State Broadcasting service, where she was reporting and presenting a 30minute regular radio slot. Blessing then moves to Lagos based Degue Broadcasting Network as a presenter. She moved on to the Nigerian Television Authority in 2001 as presenter/ reporter and producer of both light entertainment and documentary programmes. Abu loves to share interesting moments and lighten others’ burden where she can by God’s grace. She is married and the home blessed with children.
Edith Obiageli Nwapi – NAN, Abuja. Obiageli Edith Nwapi is from Aboh, Ndokwa East of Delta State. A journalist with NAN, she holds a HND in Mass Communication and a post graduate diploma in Management. She has worked with the Ministry of Health, Yobe State as well as the Yobe News (Newspaper). She is a keen horticulturalist and florist.
Garba Danazumi Suleiman – Voice of Nigeria, Kano. Garba Danazumi Suleman was born in 1963 in Lere Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He attended the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria and Bayero University, and completed his NYSC one year programme at Federal Government College, Port Harcourt from 1991-1992. He was a full time farmer for 2 years before joining the journalism profession with Voice of Nigeria (VON) in 1997, and has continued to farm ever since. After being a progamme producer and Hausa newscaster in the Lagos Office for 12 years, he is now the Bureau Chief, VON, Kano, where he still continues to report on issues including agriculture.
Hope Abah – Media Trust Ltd, Benue.
Ifeanyi Charles Nwoko – NAN, Abuja. Ifeanyi Charles Nwoko was born in Enugu state Nigeria and is from Umuahia North Local Government Area in Abia state. He studied Mass Communication at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu. Currently he works on the Features Desk of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Ita Ikpang – Producer/Director, NTA, Abuja. Ita Etim Ikpang was born in 1963 in Itu, Akwa Ibom State., and obtained a BA(Ed) English in 1995 from University of Jos, Plateau State. Presently a producer and director of programs in NTA, Abuja and a manager of programs, Ita produces agricultural based programs, aimed at enlightening the masses on propagation of crops and how there could be better yields for sufficient food production in Nigeria.
Jamila Hamisu Mai Iyali – Freedom Radio, Kano. Born in 1980 in Kano State, Jamila is an experienced journalist working with a private radio station with over eight millions listenership worked as a field reporter, editor and presenter.
Jimoh Babatunde – Vanguard, Lagos.
John Abah Anthony – AfricaSTI News, Abuja. Abah Anthony John was born in Kaduna Nigeria in 1986. He obtained a Bsc in Mass Communication in 2008 from Benue State University, Makurdi. After his service year in Ondo State, he has worked as a journalist to media houses including Peoples Power newspaper and Nigerian Royal Mail. He presently works as a reporter to AFRICASTI News online, where his areas of interest agriculture, environment, science, technology and health. His hobbies are travelling, reading, meeting people and professional football.
Kate Obande – NAN, Abuja. Hailing from Benue State, Kate speaks English and Idoma fluently and is 25 years old. She studied Mass Communication at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi and now works as a reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Kayode Olaitan Simeon – NAN, Abuja. Olaitan is a journalist and feature writer of more than two decades experience, covering virtually all beats, with a bias towards reporting agriculture. Born in 1966, he holds a BA Hons degree in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan and professional certificates in journalism.
Kenneth Azahan – The Road, Abuja. Azahan Kenneth Tyoakaa is a journalist with over 5 years of experience in both print and broadcast sectors. He is particularly interested in community development journalism and has practiced with Borno Radio Television Corporation, Maiduguri, Catholic Star newspaper Makurdi, Nigerian Newsworld Magazine and Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, Abuja. Presently, Kenneth is the Acting Assistant News Editor, Nigerian Pilot Newspaper where he is partly responsible for assessing the quality of news that comes in vis-à-vis its usefulness and rightness in line with the objectives of the organization. He is also responsible for developing story ideas on issues that are beneficial to society. Kenneth has within the period of his journalism practice, reported the agriculture, finance and the oil and gas sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Ladidi Lucie Elukpo – Guardian Newspapers, Abuja. Hailing from Kogi State, Nigeria, Ladidi Lucy Elukpo is 25 years old and holds a BSc degree in Botany from the University of Jos. She also has a passion for photography and holds a number of photographic qualifications. Presently, she works with Guardian Newspapers as a ‘reportive photo-journalist’, with a particular focus on youth issues. She has particular interests in disseminate information to the general public about developments in science and agriculture.
Magdalene Offiong Ukuedgor – NAN, Abuja. Magdalene was born in 1982 in Calabar, Cross River State. She is an English graduate from the University of Calabar and currently works with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as a correspondent on the Agriculture, Environment and Water Desk.
Muazu Elaze Abisabo – Leadership, Katsina. Born in 1981 in Obi LGA area of Nasarawa state, Muazu Elaze Abisabo bagged a BA (hons) in Theatre Arts from the University of Jos in 2002 and a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communications from Bayero University, Kano. Having served with Nasarawa Publishing Company, as a reporter and later senior reporter, and Peoples Media Limited, as a state correspondent, Muazu joined Leadership Newspaper Group in 2011, and currently serves as the Katsina state correspondent.
Nura Sani Bello – Radio Jigawa. Nura Sani Bello was born in 1976 at Babura, Jigawa state. Having obtained a Diploma and Advance Diploma in Mass Communications from Bayero University, Kano, Nura’s career in journalism began with NTA Dutse in 2003, followed by Freedom Radio Kano and Blueprint Newspaper, before the current role with Jigawa Broadcasting Corporation.
Ojoma Akor – Daily Trust, Abuja. Ojoma Akor is a senior reporter, and runs the Women/Home Front desk of Daily Trust Newspapers, where she writes on issues concerning women, including women and agriculture. Akor has published several articles on women farmers who constitute over 60 % of farmers in the country and has done reports on the moringa plant, labour saving technologies, having your own vegetable garden among others which reflects her interest in agriculture generally. She holds a BA degree and MSc in Mass Communication from Kogi State Universit,y Anyigba and Benue State University , Makurdi respectively. She has worked in Media Trust Company Ltd , publishers of Daily Trust and other titles for five years.
Rabi Mohammed – NTA Sokoto.
Salimat Garba – NAN, Abuja. Hailing from Ilorin, Kwara State, Salimat Garba was born in 1989. She studied Performing Arts at University of Ilorin, and is presently working with the News Agency of Nigeria as a reporter covering agricultural and environmental related issues.
Yusuf Adebowale – NTA. Adebowale Yusuf is a principal producer with the NTA, and a graduate of Mass Communications from the University of Lagos. His area of interest is developmental communication with emphasis on grassroots and agricultural development
Umar Akilu Majeri – Amminiya Newspaper. Umar was born in Majeri town, Jigawa state and obtained a news reporting and photography certificate from the School of Journalism Kano in 1990. After working for Bauchi broadcasting cooperation and Shield newspapers as Jigawa state Umar returned to Bayero University for a diploma and professional certificate in mass communication. Since then, he has worked with Gaskiya Tafi Kobo Millennium newspaper, the Desert Herald, Daily Summit , Fresh Fact, and his present role is working as a freelance for Aminiya