The Nation Newspaper journalist, Juliana Agbo, has clinched the Best Print Category prize at the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Africa Media Awards held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Agbo received the continental honour on Friday during the climax of OFAB Africa’s Annual Review and Planning Meeting, which brought together journalists and biotechnology stakeholders from across the continent.
The win added to her growing list of achievements. On November 4, 2025, she had swept the OFAB Nigeria Media Awards, emerging both Best Print and Overall Winner, where she won a HP laptop, Samsung Galaxy Tablet and a cash prize.
Her latest recognition also came with a cash prize, an iPhone 15 Pro, and a certificate.
Representing Nigeria among 38 contestants from 10 African countries, Agbo distinguished herself with a compelling and deeply reported story on agricultural biotechnology, an area increasingly vital to Africa’s food security and climate resilience.
OFAB, a collaborative initiative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter, operates in 10 countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Mozambique and Malawi.
Agbo’s win not only celebrates her professional excellence but also reinforces Nigeria’s rising profile in science and agriculture journalism on the African stage.
After receiving her award, Agbo dedicated the honour to Nigerian journalists committed to impactful development reporting. She expressed optimism that her recognition would “inspire more media professionals to engage deeply with science reporting.”
The ceremony drew policymakers, researchers, media leaders, and development partners from across Africa, all united in their call for stronger science communication.
Director of ISAAA AfriCenter, Margaret Karembu, stressed that innovation must be supported by public trust and effective communication to create real impact.
“We can adopt innovations, we can regulate them but innovation alone is not enough for research to impact people. Communities must trust it. Policymakers must support it. Farmers must feel empowered when they adopt these innovations,” she said.
According to her, journalists remain at the heart of this process as interpreters of scientific innovations, bridging the gap between laboratories and communities.
By simplifying complex research for public understanding, she said, the media ensures that “innovations are not only discovered but effectively applied to improve lives.”
Welcoming guests to the event, Executive Director of AATF, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, described journalists as essential partners in making science accessible to farmers, policymakers, and the public.
Accurate, engaging, and evidence-based reporting, he noted, helps communities embrace agricultural innovations while holding leaders accountable.
Dr. Kanangire emphasised that “a well-informed public is crucial for building trust in new technologies and fostering sustainable agricultural development across the continent.”
He added, “In an era of remarkable scientific progress, innovation alone is insufficient. It must be matched by effective communication, public trust, and inclusive dialogue.”
He encouraged journalists to keep probing emerging trends, challenging narratives, and ensuring that the benefits of biotechnology reach people equitably. He also praised media organizations for their dedication to integrity, accuracy, and impactful storytelling.
Dr. Kanangire explained that the OFAB program draws from global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063, using biotechnology and strategic communication to empower smallholder farmers, reduce poverty, and strengthen food security.
The initiative, he said, is vital in raising awareness, fostering stakeholder dialogue, and promoting evidence-based policymaking.
