In a year marked by escalating climate impacts and evolving policy conversations, the media’s role in shaping public understanding has never been more critical. Yet climate journalism in Nigeria often faces a persistent challenge, coverage that leans heavily on disaster headlines while overlooking the voices, solutions, and accountability frameworks that can drive real change.
To shift this narrative, the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), with support from Oxfam, hosted the 2nd Edition of the Climate Media Spotlight Award, a platform created not only to celebrate excellence in climate reporting but to deepen the quality, depth, and influence of environmental journalism in the country.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition held in November 2024, the 2025 ceremony went a step further. It highlighted journalists who consistently elevate public understanding, challenge institutional neglect, and spotlight community-led climate resilience initiatives. These are reporters who travel into marginalized communities, interrogate policy gaps, and tell stories that compel both action and accountability.
This year’s award was more than a recognition ceremony; it was a reaffirmation of the essential role the media plays in keeping climate justice alive in public consciousness. It honored individuals and institutions whose work ensures not only that the truth is documented, but that public hope in climate action is preserved
A New Milestone: Launch of the Nigerian Journalists for Climate Justice Hub
A significant highlight of the event was the formal announcement of the Nigerian Journalists for Climate Justice Hub, a pioneering platform designed to unite journalists dedicated to environmental and climate reporting.
The Hub will serve as a knowledge exchange space, a peer learning community, and a collaborative network to strengthen professional skills and amplify climate narratives across Nigeria’s media landscape. Through this initiative, GIFSEP aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem where climate reporters can grow, innovate, and collaborate.
Honoring Outstanding Climate Storytellers
The 2025 Climate Media Spotlight Award recognized journalists across broadcast, print, and digital media whose work demonstrated courage, depth, and unwavering commitment to environmental integrity. Honorees included:
- Charles Alfa – Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
- Michael Simire – EnviroNews
- Abdulkareem Mojeed – Premium Times
- Joy Onyekwere Ify – People’s FM
- Amechi Oyema Chukwuekwu – Authority Newspaper
- Nkoli Omhoundu Lovelyn – Africa Independent Television (AIT)
- Abigail Ifelayo Joshua – News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
- Kemi Balogun – TVC News
- Patrick Oluwaseun Orlu – Channels TV
- Anthony Momodu – ARISE News
Each awardee has demonstrated a consistent track record of reporting that connects climate change with everyday life, food systems, energy access, displacement, biodiversity loss, and community resilience, making the complex tangible and the unheard visible.