AUB Media Awards 2025: Excellence in African Journalism Celebrated in Abidjan

The 3rd edition of the AUB Media Awards, held on the sidelines of the 16th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), recognized excellence and innovation in radio and television journalism. The awards ceremony took place on the night of June 20-21, 2025, at the Sofitel Hotel in Abidjan, under the leadership of the Ivorian Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, Amadou Coulibaly. This ceremony, highlighted high-quality productions, demonstrating the richness and diversity of talent on the continent and beyond. The competition distinguished productions in various categories, showcasing the media's commitment to societal, environmental, economic and cultural issues.

Radio Charts

Best Radio Magazine category, the RTI (Ivory Coast) was praised for her poignant work entitled "Before the Age, Already a Mother: The Invisible Story of Girls in the Slums of Abidjan". This report highlights the complex social reality of young girls faced with early pregnancies.

The Best Major Radio Report award went to Radio Algérienne (Algeria) for "Green Hydrogen-Burning Water" (Arabic version) , a fascinating exploration of energy and environmental issues.

The Best Radio Documentary went to CRTV North West (Cameroon) for " Universal Health Coverage ”, a vital subject for the development of the continent.

Finally, Sputnik Africa – Russian Radio won the award for Best Radio Culture Report with "How local languages in Africa face a globalized and digitalized world", an essential reflection on the preservation of African linguistic heritage.

Television Awards

On the television side, the Tunisian Television (Tunisia) was honored with the award for Best TV Documentary for " Farhat Hached”, a tribute to a historical figure.

The Best Major TV Report was awarded to Benin TV (Benin) for "Innocent: an example of courage", an inspiring work highlighting human resilience.

CRTV – Cameroon (Cameroon) won the award for Best TV Magazine with " Dzu Zok, the village in the city", a work that offers a unique perspective on the coexistence between tradition and urban modernity.

Television (TVM) (Madagascar) was awarded in the Best TV Science Report category for "Madagascar, the island reservoir of medicinal and aromatic plants", a work which promotes the natural wealth and scientific potential of the Big Island.

The prize for Best TV Economic Report was given to RTS – Sénégal for "La Grande Niaye: heritage to preserve: 'Green Globe'", highlighting the importance of environmental preservation from an economic perspective.

Finally, France 24 (France) was awarded for Best TV Political Report with "Madagascar: Faced with looting, a radio station alerts farmers and limits attacks", a report highlighting the crucial role of the media in protecting communities.

Best TV Environment Report category, TRT World (Turkey) won an award for "Climate Frontlines: How Kenya is Exploited and Green Washed”, a hard-hitting investigation into contemporary environmental challenges in Africa.

The jury of this third edition, chaired by Kenyan Michael Ndetei, Head of Programmes at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Television, praised the quality, diversity and relevance of the content submitted for its consideration.

Encouragement

For the Director General of the AUB, Grégoire Ndjaka, these awards are not only a recognition of the talent of African media professionals, but also proof of their ability to produce relevant and quality content. These productions are, according to Mr. Ndjaka, "essential to enlighten the populations and promote the realities of the continent." At the same time, the Director General of the AUB expressed his gratitude to the Ivorian government and the dynamic Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) led by Jean Martial Adou, for the warm "Akwaba" reserved for the many delegations who made the trip to Côte d'Ivoire.

The President of the AUB Executive Council, Cléophas Barore, for his part, affirmed that the AUB Media Awards confirm their role as "a catalyst for journalistic excellence in Africa." Sending a message of encouragement to those who were not rewarded this year, Mr. Barore stressed the importance of hard work. while emphasizing that perseverance is the key to future success.

Held under the high patronage of His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, the 16th edition of the General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) provided an essential framework for strategic reflection on the future of African broadcasting. The opening ceremony, chaired by Mr. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire, brought together distinguished guests including ministers (Botswana, Equatorial Guinea), ambassadors, directors general, academics, media professionals, students and members of civil society, from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. During two intense days, participants actively exchanged views on the pressing challenges shaping broadcasting, particularly in a context marked by widespread resource scarcity and technological challenges.