Nigerian journalists have once again made the country proud by earning top honours at the 10th Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Organised by Continental Reinsurance Plc, the awards ceremony coincided with the company’s 10th CEO Summit, celebrating a decade of recognising outstanding reporting in the re/insurance industry across Africa.
The 2025 edition saw a significant 29 percent increase in participation, with over 150 entries submitted by journalists from 19 African countries spanning Anglophone, Francophone, and Arabic-speaking regions.
Blessing Ifechukwude of the Voice of Nigeria emerged as the winner in the English Broadcast Category for her insightful report on how the removal of fuel subsidy is affecting health insurance access in Oyo State.
Another Nigerian journalist from the same media house, Destiny Onyemihia, was named first runner-up in the same category for her feature on life insurance and its importance for seafarers.
Kenya’s Patrick Alushula of Nation Media Group clinched the Overall Winner title and also won the English Print Category for his detailed analysis of the rise in cybercrime in Kenya and the increasing adoption of cyber insurance.
Other winners from across the continent hailed from Uganda, Burkina Faso, Egypt, and Ethiopia, reflecting the diversity and growing depth of journalism within the sector.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Continental Re Holdings, Lawrence Nazare, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting quality journalism and raising public awareness about the value of insurance in Africa.
He described the awards as a milestone that highlights a decade of celebrating excellence in reporting within the industry.
The Chief Judge, Michael Wilson, praised the wide range of topics covered by this year’s entries, noting that they included traditional areas such as health, agriculture, and motor insurance, as well as emerging issues like AI, insuretech, ESG, cyber insurance, and even more specialised subjects like travel, pet insurance, political violence, and gender-focused policies.
Established by Continental Reinsurance, the Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards remain the longest-running initiative dedicated to honouring journalistic excellence in the insurance and reinsurance space across the continent.
Winners were honoured with certificates, trophies, and cash prizes in recognition of their impactful storytelling and contributions to deepening public understanding of the insurance industry.
