TheCable’s Jemilat Nasiru, Mansur Ibrahim win CJID journalism excellence award

TheCable’s Jemilat Nasiru, a staff writer, and Mansur Ibrahim, the head of multimedia, have won the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) 2024 excellence in journalism award.

Nasiru and Ibrahim’s co-authored two-part report clinched the award for the best health reporting in West Africa.

The winning story, ‘LIVING ON BORROWED TIME: How Nigeria’s unchecked e-waste is poisoning residents, environment’, explores how poor waste management practices and failure of regulatory agencies allow the continued importation and crude recycling of electronic waste, putting the health of thousands of Nigerians at risk.

According to the UN’s fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM), Nigeria generated (local and imported) 500,000 metric tons of e-waste in 2022. This is the highest in West Africa and the third highest in Africa, after Egypt and South Africa.

Nasiru and Ibrahim visited Lagos and Kano to document the stories of persons most affected by the problem, including Peter Agboola, a Lagos resident who suffered a stroke due to environmental pollution.

“I’m honoured for this recognition from the CJID. This award is an attestation that the work we do is valuable, and an encouragement to keep telling stories that matter,” Nasiru said.

“I appreciate the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) for supporting this project and giving us the support to tell this very important story. I’m grateful to Mansur Ibrahim, my co-author, and every other member of TheCable team who worked with us to make this project a success.”

Ibrahim also thanked the CJID for the award.

“This recognition from CJID shines a light on an urgent issue — the toxic legacy of e-waste and its devastating impact on human and environmental health,” he said.

“From Lagos to Kano, we met resilient individuals navigating the harsh realities of this crisis. I want to thank my co-author, Jemilat Nasiru, for her dedication and collaboration on this project and also TheCable team members who helped in the success of this project.”

Both journalists were awarded a joint cash prize of $1000.