Veteran Nigerian journalist and publisher of PREMIUM TIMES, Dapo Olorunyomi, has been named recipient of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award of the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF).

The foundation announced the recognition on Thursday while unveiling finalists for its 2026 Journalist of the Year Awards.

The award recognises veteran journalists and media professionals whose careers have made lasting contributions to development journalism, public discourse and ethical reporting in Africa.

According to AMDF, the Lifetime Achievement Award is determined exclusively by its board, which selects one recipient annually. The award will be presented at the foundation’s 10th Africa Conference on Development Journalism scheduled for 2 to 4 December 2026.

“Unlike the other award categories, the Lifetime Achievement Award is selected strictly by the AMDF Board, with only one recipient honoured each year. It is presented annually during the Africa Conference on Development Journalism,” the statement read.

Mr Olorunyomi, the chief executive officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), is a veteran journalist whose career spans several decades. He has played prominent roles in Nigeria’s media industry, particularly in investigative journalism, promotion of press freedom and accountability, and providing innovative, practical solutions to the challenges confronting ethical journalism in the West African region.

Mr Olorunyomi co-founded PREMIUM TIMES in 2011, serving as its publisher.

The newspaper has established itself as a leading platform for investigative and public-interest journalism, with a focus on promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.

In 2014, he co-established the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), the newspaper’s non-profit sister organisation, to strengthen investigative reporting, promote press freedom and support media development. The organisation was renamed CJID in 2022 following an expansion of its mandate to support journalism innovation and democratic accountability across West Africa.

Mr Olorunyomi’s contributions to journalism have earned him several local and international recognitions, including the 2020 International Press Freedom Award presented by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

He also received the 2017 Press Freedom Award from the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence.

In 2025, President Bola Tinubu conferred on him the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria.

Finalists for AMDF 2026 journalist of the year award revealed

Meanwhile, AMDF announced finalists in four of the five categories of its 2026 Journalist of the Year Awards following an assessment of entries from nine African countries.

The countries are Benin, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

In the online category, the finalists are Hammad Abdulrasheed of Ripples Nigeria, Janefrances Chibundu of TheCable and Nanji Nandang of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.

The print category features Chima Azubuike and Daniel Ayantoye, both of PUNCH Newspaper, alongside Sisay Sahlu Nigatu of The Reporter, Ethiopia.

READ ALSO: PREMIUM TIMES’ journalists, others named finalists of African Investigative Journalism Awards

Juliet Buna of Crest FM was the only finalist in the radio category, while Nana Boakye Dankwah Yiadom of Joy News, Ghana, emerged as the sole finalist in the television category.

No finalist was recommended in the photography category following the assessment of submissions.

The chairman of the selection committee, Joseph Edegbo, said the entries were assessed based on development relevance, investigative depth, originality, research and evidence, public-interest value, storytelling and actual or potential impact.

Mr Edegbo, who is the managing editor of Africa Prime News, said the committee examined the actual journalistic works submitted rather than relying solely on applicants’ descriptions.

“The winners and runners-up in the Journalist of the Year categories, alongside the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced and presented at the 10th Africa Conference on Development Journalism, scheduled for 2nd–4th December 2026.

“AMDF congratulates all the finalists and appreciates every journalist who submitted an entry, recognising their contributions to development-focused journalism across Africa,” the statement added.

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Dapo Olorunyomi to receive AMDF Lifetime Achievement Award

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