By Grateful Ogunjebe
The Academy of Public Health (APH), the flagship body of the West African Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) has named Nigerian health journalist Ojoma Akor as the recipient of the inaugural Moji Makanjuola Public Health Journalism Award.
The prestigious award recognizes her exceptional contributions to health reporting in Nigeria and across Africa. It acknowledges her tireless efforts to amplify critical health issues and inspire action.
The award will be presented at the APH Annual Conference in Abuja on November 24, 2025.
According to the organisers of the award, Akor, Editor of Health and Science Africa and former Health Editor at Daily Trust, has brought over a decade of experience to health journalism, investigative reporting, and media advocacy.
Her work spans critical areas such as health financing, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), nutrition, and both infectious and non-communicable diseases.
She has received numerous national and international awards, including recognition from the International Centre for Journalists and the Emerging Health Technologies Media Award.
Akor has also completed the Design Equity and Action Leadership (DEAL) Fellowship under the Young Professionals in Public Health Programme of APH.
Beyond reporting, Akor has established herself as a committed public health advocate. She serves as President of Journalists Against Cancer (JAC) Nigeria and volunteers with the End Cervical Cancer Nigeria Initiative.
She has contributed to national and international health advisory forums, including the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer and the UHC2030 forum, and has spoken at conferences such as the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Pan-Africa Conference and UNICEF’s polio eradication dialogue.
The Moji Makanjuola Public Health Journalism Award celebrates journalists whose reporting has advanced public understanding of health issues and contributed to evidence-based policy decisions.
Akor’s recognition underscores the growing importance of public health journalism in promoting health literacy and addressing pressing health challenges across Africa.
