Citizen TV journalist, Victoria Rubadiri, made her debut on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Friday night, December 3.
Rubadiri, who attended a three-month training in London, UK, courtesy of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award she won in 2020, hosted Focus on Africa on Friday night.
She took over the show from seasoned BBC journalist, Sophie Ikenye, who presents the show with fellow anchors Peter Okwoche from Nigeria and Zambian national Lukwesa Burak.
Ikenye announced that Rubadiri will be hosting Focus on Africa via her Twitter account, and the news was confirmed by Okwoche after he announced a feature that Rubadiri had worked on for BBC.
"In half an hour @VickyRubadiri, 2020 Komla Dumor award winner will be presenting Focus on Africa on @BBCWorld. Shine," the BBC journalist posted on her official social media account.
Rubadiri had earlier filed a feature which was aired on BBC on the dangers women face using taxis in Africa, following various reports by women on social media complaining of being abused and even kidnapped.
The feature focused on Congo, where kidnappings in taxis have been on the rise with up to 5 cases being reported weekly in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rubadiri highlighted the trauma these incidences have caused women in Kinshasa while bringing to light a solution that a tech company is providing to bring safe mobility in the city.
The Citizen TV journalist has been in the UK for more than two months now after she was announced as the sixth winner of the Komla Dumor Award, 2020.
The Director of BBC World Service Group, Jamie Angus, noted that judges were impressed by her passion for telling African stories. Rubadiri temporarily worked with BBC news teams across TV, radio and digital after her training.
"I am excited at the prospect of learning new skills at the BBC to be able to connect with audiences locally, regionally and internationally, no matter which platform the story is being told," Rubadiri stated in an interview with the BBC.
“Komla was a well-rounded journalist whose style, though authoritative, was also compassionate, empathetic and uplifting. His ability to give the facts comprehensively, and yet still be attuned to his audience, was something I admired and a skill I seek to emulate.”
