Freelance journalist, Leocadia Bongben, wins continental journalism prize.

The multitalented journalism heavyweight with knack for insightful reporting on science and solutions, was declared winner of the Grand Prize at the second edition of the Emerging Health Technologies Media Award of Excellence.

The award is an annual recognition of journalists at the fore of reporting on African-led technologies and innovations to achieve the continent’s socioeconomic transformation.

It is an initiative of the African Institute for Development Policy, AFIDEP, and the African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD. 

The aim is to promote reporting of technologies and innovations being developed by and for use towards the achievement of the continent’s aspirations, as well as to raise public awareness, understanding, participation, and local ownership of technologies and innovations.

Leocadia Bongben was declared Grand Prize winner by a panel, comprising experts with rich experience in science and journalism. This was during a virtual award ceremony on October 9, 2024. 

Bongben’s article, titled: “Made in Cameroon: The Locally Fabricated Incubator Designed to Give Pre-term Babies a Fighting Chance”, published in Nigeria Health Watch, was singled out by the judges from among 119 eligible entries from 19 countries.

Leocadia Bongben’s compelling story focused on the use of a locally manufactured incubator to combat premature infant mortality, showcased an affordable solution and described how the home-grown response works in the context of the problem. 

The judges who scrutinised and vetted the articles, hailed the Grand Prize winner and other laureates, for demonstrating depth of the journalism field in shining the spotlight on innovations transforming health care across Africa, which press forward solutions for human wellbeing.

Zimbabwe’s Derick Matsengarwodzi won in the Online Category, Nigeria’s Afeez Hanafi won in the Print Category, a documentary by Ghana’s Portia Garbor took home the top prize in the TV Category while Nigeria’s Dajie Odok won for her feature in the Radio Category. 

Enter Grand Prize winner  

Reacting to the award on her official Facebook page, Leocadia Bongben said she feels “elated to win the Grand Prize”. 

The award-winner said: “The run for the Grand Prize started with 119 entries”. The communication specialist said she is “humbled to emerge the winner of the Grand Prize”. 

Leocadia who also has keen interest in underreported human rights and climate change stories, used the opportunity to encourage other journalists to submit their entries for the third edition of the competition, which has already been launched. 

“You could be the next winner of the Grand Prize at the third edition of the Emerging Health Technologies Media Award of Excellence. What are you waiting for? Send your entries,” she wrote on her Facebook page. 

Enter AFIDEP, AUDA-NEPAD officials 

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Public Policy and Knowledge Translation and Head of Kenya Office at AFIDEP, Dr Rose Oronje, underscored media’s key role in expanding the reach of conversations on emerging technologies that address healthcare issues on the continent. 

“Africa accounts for the largest disease burden globally, and emerging technologies or new tools if very well developed and integrated in our health systems, could save lives and reduce cost of treatment,” Dr Oronje stated. 

She said aside the media’s central role in expanding the reach of conversations on emerging technologies, it has to, as society’s watchdog, “hold governments to account and provide the platforms where citizens can engage their governments in the commitments they have made around science, technology, and innovations and harnessing these for better health on the continent”.

Cueing in, the Chief of Staff at AUDA-NEPAD, Dr Msingathi Sipuka, explained that the media award seeks to “highlight the pivotal role of journalists in enhancing public awareness of the innovations that will shape Africa’s future”.

Dr Msingathi insisted that: “Whether it's through their investigative reporting, in-depth features, or compelling broadcasts, journalists have the power to bring complex issues into focus, and to make them relatable and understandable for every African citizen”.  

Representative of judges hail quality of articles 

Speaking on behalf of the judges at the ceremony, the Chairperson of Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association, KENSJA, Duncan Mboyah, said the journalists, through their stories, “showcased how Africa is tapping into emerging technologies, knowledge and innovations in the health sector to bridge the policy gap and call for policy change in countries where the technologies are yet to be embrace”.

Mboyah said the judges have concluded that “journalists have an essential role to play in promoting understanding of the applications of emerging technologies and innovations in the health sector in Africa, unearthing the challenges in the health sector, monitoring and reporting on how they are making a difference, as well as showing how communities are getting saved through the interventions in the continent”.

He underscored the need for journalists to “grasp the complex nature of technologies, and particularly emerging technologies, as crises continue to unfold in the continent that require their service”. 

Initiators of the media award said the winners of the second edition have shown the important role journalists play in bringing attention to innovative healthcare solutions in Africa. 

They said their stories highlight how new technologies are improving health services and solving challenges in their communities. 

As per organisers, by sharing these successes, the journalists are helping to inspire positive change across the continent. 

AUDA-NEPAD and AFIDEP pledged to continue supporting and encouraging impactful reporting, fostering greater awareness and advancing homegrown solutions that strengthen Africa’s healthcare systems for the future.  

Third edition of competition launched 

Through the Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), the African Institute for Development Policy and the African Union Development Agency have announced a call for entries for the third edition of the Emerging Technologies Media Award of Excellence

The third edition of the media award is open till January 2025, with a focus on “innovations at the nexus of water, food and energy”.   

It is open only for individual African journalists publishing in African-led media houses. Journalists are invited to submit their stories highlighting the emerging technologies shaping these critical sectors in Africa. 

Snippet of Leocadia Bongben’s rich career 

Leocadia Bongben is a freelance multimedia journalist, communication specialist and Producer/Fixer. With shooting and editing skills, she has contributed to several national and international media outlets. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, obtained in 1998. 

In 2022, Leocadia Bongben obtained a Higher Diploma in Peace and Humanitarian Action from the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace Studies and Development Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon. 

The former Volunteer Communication Lead was participant at the US Embassy Sponsored Youth 4 Peace Project on Fake News and Mitigating Hate Speech.

The inspiring and multitalented media woman is a Wanadata Fellow and COVID-19 Reporting Award winner. She has earned bylines in Zenger, Bird Newsroom, Mongabay, Global Voices among others. Leocadia Bongben is former Sports contributor for BBC Sports and ex-reporter for BBC News Pidgin. 

Her mastery of sports reporting and analysis got her appointed as Team Press Officer of the Cameroon Women's National Team, the Indomitable Lionesses. She held the position from 2012-2017. 

She reported for authoritative Buea-based newspaper, The Post. Her fine pen and excellent writing skills have earned much admiration in Cameroon and beyond. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3263 of Friday October 18, 2024