Merck Foundation CEO and African First Ladies announce the winners of Merck Foundation “ More Than a Mother” 2021 media recognition awards
| The theme of the awards was: Raising awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility Stigma, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education |
| ACCRA, Ghana, January 12, 2022/ — Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with African First Ladies announced the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021. The awards were announced by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother together with African First Ladies, who are also the Ambassadors of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’. The theme of the awards was: Raising awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility Stigma, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation celebrated the winners saying “I am extremely proud and pleased to announce the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards ‘More Than a Mother’ 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the African First Ladies for their consistent support as Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother. I appreciate all the efforts put in by the African Media Fraternity who became the voice of the voiceless to raise awareness about sensitive social and cultural issues such as Infertility stigma and girl education action, in the past year. I have always emphasized the prominent role of media as I strongly believe that both media and art have the capacity and ability to create a culture shift in our communities in a cost-effective way. I welcome all the winners to be members of our Merck Foundation Alumni and work closely with us to support and empower women and girls at all levels.” Merck Foundation received a great response from African journalists in the form of several excellent entries. The ‘Merck Foundation More Than A Mother’ Awards Committee introduced second and third positions in order to select more than one winner for different categories. The awards committee also announced Special Awards, to acknowledge the high quality of work received in more than one category by the same applicant and this to encourage their passion and dedication towards this noble cause. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, said, “I am very happy with the work showcased by all our winners; hence it gives me immense joy to announce that Merck Foundation is additionally rewarding the winners by providing them with one year access to an online educational training program called ‘MasterClass’. The MasterClass is an immersive online experience and self-paced learning course that can be accessed anywhere with the Internet. I encourage all the winners to be ‘Merck Foundation More Than A Mother Advocate’ to further raise awareness about infertility, eliminate the stigma around it and support girl education. I also welcome them as valuable members of ‘Merck Foundation Alumni’. She further added, “I would also like to announce the Call for Applications for the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards ‘More Than a Mother’ 2022. I am looking forward to the entries from the Media Fraternity across Africa this year to write meaningful and influencing stories and reports to raise awareness and sensitize our communities about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Empowering Girls & Women through Education. We shall soon share details on these awards for the upcoming year, 2022.” Here is the list of Award Winners: Here are the winners from West African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of The Gambia, H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW; The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO; The First Lady of Liberia, H.E. CLAR MARIE WEAH; and The First Lady of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. AISHA MUHAMMADU BUHARI: WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Dzifa Tetteh Tay, The Spectator, GHANAOjoma Akor, Daily Trust Newspaper, NIGERIA SECOND Position: Jonathan Donkor, Ghanaian Times, GHANAEfia Akese, The Mirror, GHANA THIRD Position: Yaw Asirifi-Twum, Freelance Journalist, GHANA ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Never Garmah Lomo, Newspublictrust.com, LIBERIAZadok Kwame Gyes, Daily Graphic / Graphic Online, GHANA SECOND Position: Neta Kris Abiana Parsram And Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah, Multimedia Group Limited, GHANABenedicta Gyimaah Folley, Ghanaian Times, GHANA THIRD Position: Agnes Opoku Sarong, New Times Corporation, GHANABukola Afeni, Newsdayonline.com, NIGERIA RADIO CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Nyadror Adanuti Nelson, Diamond FM, Tamale (Northern Region), GHANA SECOND Position: Never Garmah Lomo, Newspublictrust.com, LIBERIA MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Alieu Ceesay, QTV Gambia, The GAMBIA SECOND Position: Akua Oforiwa Darko, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GHANA THIRD Position: Beatrice Senadju, Ghana Broadasting Corporation, GHANA Winners from Southern African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Namibia, H.E. MONICA GEINGOS; The First Lady of Malawi, H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA; The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA: SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Sonja, Freelance Journalist at The Namibian Newspaper, NAMIBIAMoses Mugugunyeki, The Standard, ZIMBABWE SECOND Position: Memory Kutengule Chatonda, Weekend Nation, MALAWI THIRD Position: Isaac Salima, Times Group, MALAWI ONLINE CATEGORY FIRST Position: Shireen Van Wyk, Freelance Journalist, NAMIBIATendai Rupapa, The Herald, ZIMBABWEJohn Manzongo, The Herald Newspaper, ZIMBABWEGracious Mugovera, The Patriot, ZIMBABWE SECOND Position: June Shimuoshili, Unwrap.Online, NAMIBIACatherine Murombedzi Nee Mwauyakufa, The Observer, ZIMBABWE THIRD Position: Eva Hatontola Chanda, Radio Christian Voice, ZAMBIA RADIO CATEGORY FIRST Position: Prudence Chibale Siabana, Radio Phoenix, ZAMBIA SECOND Position: Janet Mtali, Trans World Radio, MALAWI MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY FIRST Position: Alepher kasongo, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation- MBC, MALAWI SECOND Position: Brenard Mwanza, Luntha television, MALAWI Here are the winners from East African Countries: EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Christina Mwakangale, The Guardian, TANZANIA ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Bridges Mugala, 2includeeveryone.blogspot.com, KENYAVeronica Romwald Mrema, matukionamaisha.blogspot.com, TANZANIA RADIO CATEGORY FIRST Position: Adam Gabriel Hhando, CG FM Radio, TANZANIAVictor Moturi, Pamoja FM, KENYA SECOND Position: Jumbe Benjamin, KFM RADIO (Nation Media Group – Uganda), UGANDA THIRD Position: Mercy Tyra Murengu, Atoo Sifa Fm-Kakuma, Stringer for Voice of America, KENYA MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS: FIRST Position: Walter Mwesigye, NTV Uganda, UGANDAZainab Mohammed, TV47 Kenya, KENYA SECOND Position: Elizabeth Kadzo Gunga, Royal Media Services (Citizen TV), KENYAAnne Njogu, Standard Media Group, KENYA Here are the winners from African French Speaking Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Burundi, H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE; The First Lady of Central African Republic, H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA; The First Lady of Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI: AFRICAN FRENCH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES PRINT CATEGORY FIRST Position: Issa Moussa, Niger Times, NIGERIradukunda, Journal Le Renouveau du Burundi, BURUNDI SECOND Position: Donat Muemba, Jua Magazine, DRC ONLINE CATEGORY FIRST Position: Koami Agbetiafa, Niger Inter Hebdo, NIGERBahwa Ferdinand, Le Journal Africa, BURUNDIAmbrosine Mêmèdé Azododassi, Savoir News Agency, TOGO SECOND Position: Bréhima Traore, Alert-mali.com, MALINgwa Keziah Fela, Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) Yaounde, CAMEROON RADIO CATEGORY FIRST Position: Schella Claudicia Yemengali, Radio Centrafrique, CARNdayishimiye Cyriaque, Radio TV Buntu, BURUNDIMagendero Benigne, RTV Buntu Buye, BURUNDI SECOND Position: Stephane Kokanzo, Radio Centrafrique, CAR THIRD Position: Innocent Ndihokubwayo, Radio Tv Buntu, BURUNDI MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY FIRST Position: Donat Muemba, Jua Services / Jua Magazine, DRCMatthias Kabuya Tshilumba, Radio Télévision Débout Kasaï (RTDK) Mbuji-Mayi, DRCJean Népomuscène Irambona, Radio-TV Buntu, BURUNDI Here are the Special Award Winners SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Diplomacy & Development , DRCJessy NZENGU, lualabamaprovince.com, DRCJean-Bosco NtaconayigizE, Radio TV Buntu, BURUNDIAhmed Bello, Savoirnews.net, CAMEROONMaurice Tuninahazimana, Radio TV Buntu, BURUNDI |
