Two Kenyan journalists bagged awards at the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB).
The two, Willy Lusige of KTN and Gabriel Kudaka from NTV won the awards for their exemplary work in Science reporting.
Lusige announced on social media that they had bagged the awards after they submitted their works to the committee who picked the winners out of applications from all over Africa.
The journalists won Ksh200,000 for their exemplary work and got praises from Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo for their storytelling, especially on matters to do with science.
"Congratulations to our own Willy Lusige for winning the 2020/2021 OFAB Africa Journalism Grant. Keep on informing, educating and impacting our society, bridging the knowledge gap in Agricultural Biotechnology towards agricultural transformation in Africa," he stated.
The OFAB is a grant that helps journalists interested in biotechnology stories such as GMO foods across Africa continue to share knowledge with the public through their works.
Lusige told Kenyans.co.ke that he had participated in the OFAB in 2020 but did not win the top prize. He added that he did not lose faith and when the opportunity came calling he applied again.
"In 2020 I was second runners up in Kenya and second position in Africa behind a Nigerian. I just applied. In Kenya, I won and also Gabriel Kudaka of NTV," the KTN journalist stated.
"We submitted the proposals of our biotechnology stories with others from all over Africa. So we all received an equal amount of funding," he added.
The grant seeks to support in-depth coverage of media stories on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in Kenya.
Journalists interested in reporting on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety and work in media organizations that have an online presence are encouraged to apply and participate in OFAB,
Applicants are also advised to go beyond regular reporting and come up with creative angles or topics of interest in agricultural biotechnology and biosafety.
Those submitting investigative pieces are asked to concentrate on one topic of choice to uncover new information within the agricultural biotechnology landscape and the impact on the agri-food sector.
