Anietie Akpan of The Guardian Newspaper has emerged winner of the 2023 Safe Child Africa International Award of Excellence for his contributions to ending witchcraft branding in Africa.
Akpan emerged the overall winner from three selected across the country through documentation of witchcraft branding reports by Safe Child Africa in partnership with Basic Right Initiative Counsel (BRIC).
The top three finalists included: Agba Jalingo of CrossRiverWatch, Ike Uche of the Vanguard Newspaper and Anietie Akpan of The Guardian Newspaper.
Speaking on behalf of Safe Child Africa, at the presentation of the award at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Calabar, the Principal Counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) Barr. James Ibor said Akpan was selected by the organizations after a thorough review of stories from Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, on witchcraft branding, which came outstanding from the persons selected.
Ibor who urged other journalists to emulate and continue to push for an end to witchcraft branding in Africa said Akpan’s good works and dedication to investing in witchcraft branding in the past years of practice earned him the award.
“Without them (Safe Child Africa) there is no Basic Right Counsel Initiative, and the good works recorded in Nigeria, the success stories, the documentaries wouldn’t have been possible.”
