ECOWAS launches Media excellence Award to honour the voices that tell its story: jury convenes in Abuja for deliberations

On a beautiful Wednesday morning of 9 April 2025, in a quiet hall inside Stratton Hotel, Abuja, the voices of West Africa came together—not to report the news, but to honour those who create it.

In an atmosphere of serenity,  purpose, and reflection, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched the Jury deliberation Meeting for the median edition of  ECOWAS Media Excellence Awards, a milestone initiative crafted to honour journalists whose words, images, and courage have helped shape the region’s collective journey towards attaining socio-economic integration, peace and security. The deliberations will continue until 12 April, guided by shared values and a singular mission: to recognise and select excellence in the art of impactful storytelling about the achievements, and challenges of ECOWAS since its creation in 1975.

Launched as part of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Awards are not merely ceremonial, but symbolic, acknowledging that the media has always been more than an observer of history in West Africa; it has often been its author, its witness, and at times, its conscience.

The ceremony opened with powerful addresses from senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission. Representing H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the Commission, the Special Advisor on Economic Affairs to the President, Honorable Mambury Njie, welcomed the Jury and reminded all present that “journalists in our region are not merely reporters—they are educators, nation-builders, and guardians of our democratic values.”

The Head of Communication at the ECOWAS Communication Directorate, Mr. Joel AHOFODJI, also addressed the gathering, expressing the Commission’s pride in this initiative and its confidence in the Jury’s commitment to excellence and fairness. “Your deliberation is a responsibility not just to the present, but to the future of journalism in our region,” he said.

The President of the Jury, Mr. Abdoulie Gassama, a veteran voice in African journalism, reflected on the evolution of the press in West Africa—from the days of typewriters to the digital age—reminding his peers that their task was not simply to select winners, but to evaluate stories on ECOWAS programs and activities that have made a difference.

The seven-member Jury, carefully selected to represent the region’s linguistic and professional diversity, began their work by reviewing entries in the television category. Each submission is being examined using rigorous criteria including originality, technical execution, ethical standards, and societal impact. Deliberations will continue over the following days with entries in radio, online media, photojournalism, and print categories.

At the heart of the deliberations is a shared understanding: that journalism is essential to democratic life. It is the medium through which voices are heard, injustices are challenged, cultures are preserved, and futures are shaped.

As the ECOWAS region reflects on five decades of integration, peace-building, and development, the Media Excellence Awards stand as both a tribute and a call for action—to protect press freedom, to uplift ethical journalism, and to inspire new generations of storytellers.

The names of the award recipients will be revealed later this year. But already, in this room of deliberation, one thing is certain: West Africa continues to honour those who speak truth—not just to power, but to the people.