By IJEOMA UKAZU
Following its mission to raise awareness on issues surrounding infertility, Merck Foundation, 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’ with the theme of the awards was: Raising awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility Stigma, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education.
While celebrating the winners, the CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, said, “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.”
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’.”
Continuing, Kelej adds, “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 and Women through Education. We shall soon share details on these awards for the upcoming year, 2022.”
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.
See list of Award Winners below:
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. Clair 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, GHANA
▪ Ojoma Akor, Daily Trust Newspaper, NIGERIA
SECOND Position:
▪ Jonathan Donkor, Ghanaian Times, GHANA
▪ Efia Akese, The Mirror, GHANA
THIRD Position:
▪ Yaw Asirifi-Twum, Freelance Journalist, GHANA
ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
▪ Never Garmah Lomo, Newspublictrust.com, LIBERIA
▪ Zadok Kwame Gyes, Daily Graphic / Graphic Online, GHANA
SECOND Position:
▪ Neta Kris Abiana Parsram And Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah, Multimedia Group Limited, GHANA
▪ Benedicta Gyimaah Folley, Ghanaian Times, GHANA
THIRD Position:
▪ Agnes Opoku Sarong, New Times Corporation, GHANA
▪ Bukola 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 Broadcasting Corporation, GHANA