Nigerian, Ghanaian Journalists Win 2025 Michael Elliott Award For Excellence In African Storytelling

Silas Jonathan, a journalist from Nigeria and Godwin Asediba, a Ghanaian journalist, have been named the winners of the 2025 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling, which was established in 2016 to honour the legacy of the late Michael Elliott, a renowned editor and former chief executive officer of the ONE Campaign, who believed deeply in the power of journalism to drive progress in Africa.
The Michael Elliott Award is presented by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in partnership with the ONE Campaign and the Elliott family. It aims to elevate the work of emerging African journalists who use storytelling to amplify people’s voices and improve well-being across the continent.
Jonathan’s winning story, “How Telegram, TikTok aided Russian disinformation that led to incarceration of Nigerian minors,” explores how foreign disinformation campaigns, particularly those aligned with Russian interests, are influencing political discourse and protest movements in Nigeria. His investigation, published in Premium Times, reveals how digital platforms are being manipulated to spread anti-democratic narratives that have real-world consequences.
Jonathan said: “This investigation sheds light on a concerning yet overlooked trend: how Russian-aligned disinformation is infiltrating Nigerian protests and shaping anti-democratic narratives. In an era where digital platforms amplify disinformation, understanding these dynamics is crucial to safeguarding democracy and informed decision-making.”
Jonathan currently serves as Digital Investigations Manager at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Nigeria, where he specializes in media research and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) focused on artificial intelligence, disinformation, and digital governance policy.
Asediba’s entry, “Troubled Morgue,” is a documentary that exposes the dangerous and unsanitary conditions inside a morgue in Ghana, revealing the public health risks posed to surrounding communities. The report highlights how contaminated water from the facility seeps into local sources, putting lives at risk, while underpaid and unprotected mortuary workers face daily hazards.
A reporter with Media General in Ghana, Asediba said the documentary was made possible with the support of many individuals. He said: “I would like to express my gratitude to my visual editors, Divine Agbe-Wills and Dickson Agbe-Wills, whose skill and dedication brought the story to life with precision and courage.” He also acknowledged the contributions of his medium’s graphic designers, Jonas Nana Boamah and Savior Teye, for their creative contributions, and to Mensah Kudor for expertly filming side interviews with experts that added depth to the narrative.
Asediba describes the morgue as a looming public health disaster, saying, “Contaminated water from the morgue is entering local water sources, endangering entire communities. The mortuary workers, underpaid and unprotected, are risking their lives daily. Without urgent intervention, the crisis will spiral into an outbreak of infectious diseases.
As part of their prizes, Jonathan and Asediba will receive cash awards and participate in a bespoke professional development programme at the London headquarters of The Economist, a longstanding supporter of the award.