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By Christophe Uwizeyimana
Annonciata Byukusenge, a Rwandan journalist, and the Forefront Magazine Journalist has written history as the first Rwandan female scribe to win recognition at the prestigious Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Africa Media Awards.
She was awarded runner-up in the Print and Online Category at the Africa-wide competition focused on science reporting in agricultural biotechnology. Earlier this year, Byukusenge was also named the overall winner of the 2024 OFAB Rwanda Media Awards.
Read her Story: https://shorturl.at/mKgb5
Upon winning his feat, the Science and Environmental journalist The Fore Front Magazine expressed her excitement. “I am honored to be recognized for my work in science reporting, particularly in agricultural biotechnology. This award highlights the importance of showcasing scientific advancements in agriculture and their impact on communities,” an ecstatic Byukusenge said.
She further highlighted the importance of promoting science communication and encouraging women to pursue journalism careers. “As a female journalist in Rwanda, I am proud to represent my country and inspire other women to join science reporting. It is vital to raise awareness about the role of technology in agriculture and its potential to enhance food security and livelihoods,” she added.
Byukusenge’s achievement underscores her dedication to science journalism and serves as a call to action for diversifying voices in this field. Her success inspires aspiring journalists, particularly women, to break barriers and elevate the quality of reporting on science and technology in agriculture.
The OFAB Media Awards, organized by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), aim to celebrate exemplary journalism that fosters public understanding of modern biotechnology’s role in transforming African agriculture.
Launched in 2006, OFAB operates in ten African countries, including Rwanda, to enhance knowledge-sharing on agricultural biotechnology and facilitate stakeholder engagement. Byukusenge’s recognition is a milestone for Rwandan journalism and a testament to the power of responsible science reporting in driving sustainable agricultural development across the continent.
Since the operation and collaboration of Media and the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB Rwanda) in 2022, Rwandan journalists have consistently demonstrated excellence and impactful storytelling in the OFAB Africa Media Awards, showcasing their dedication to science reporting. In 2022, Emmanuel Nshimiyimana from The New Times after becoming Overall Winner on National Level, made Rwanda proud by earning recognition for his outstanding coverage of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria, a significant achievement that highlighted his journalistic prowess. The following year, in 2023, Christophe Uwizeyimana from Radio Salus and The Fore Front Magazine, as Overall Winner on National Level, continued this legacy by winning the award as a runner-up in Tanzanie, further solidifying Rwanda’s place on the continental stage for media excellence. This consistent success underscores how Rwandan journalists are playing a critical role in bridging the gap between science and society, educating audiences on complex yet crucial topics. With Annonciata Byukusenge being recognized as a runner-up in 2024, Rwandan media professionals are proving to be influential voices in Africa’s science communication landscape.
Watch the Full Video of Awarding Ceremony,Lilongwe ,Malawi:https://youtu.be/jMp0QPGie-w
Who is Annonciata Byukusenge?
Annonciata Byukusenge graduated from the University of Rwanda (formerly the National University of Rwanda) with a degree from the School of Journalism and Communication in 2012. She has served as Chief Editor of www.rwandanews24.rw and as a Data Journalism Mentor at InfoNile. Her previous roles include News Producer and Presenter at Radio Salus and Chief Editor at www.imirasire.com. Annonciata specializes in investigative journalism, environmental reporting, and climate change storytelling.
In 2021, she was nominated by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) to attend the Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5). She is a 2020 Fellow of Women in News through investigative reporting, a winner of the 5th Edition of Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights organized by HDI Rwanda, and a 2020 Fellow of Code for Africa in partnership with Global Forest Watch (GFW) for forestation reporting.
In 2022, Annonciata became a Fellow of African Women in Media’s (AWiM) Africa Environment Journalism Programme in partnership with UNEP. She was also recognized as the Rwandan winner of the Women in News Leadership program by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN-IFRA). She further honed her expertise in environment and climate reporting through training hosted by the Environmental Reporting Collaborative (ERC) in 2022.
Currently, Annonciata Byukusenge is the InfoNile Coordinator, a Science and Environmental Journalist, and the Managing Editor of TheForefrontMagazine.com. She also works as a Freelancer at DALBERG Media. As a multi-award-winning journalist, Annonciata was the Overall Winner of the OFAB Rwanda 3rd Edition 2024 and a Runner-Up in the Print and Online Category at the OFAB Africa Media Awards 2024.
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Photo:Earlier this year, Byukusenge was also named the overall winner of the 2024 OFAB Rwanda Media Awards
Photo: Byukusenge Annonciata with other African Journalists in OFAB AFRICA MEDIA AWARDS-Lilongwe, Malawi, 13th Dec 2024
Phioto: Byukusenge receiving her Award in Lilongwe, Malawi-13th December, 2024
Photo: It was very Fantastic for her as the first Rwandan Women to receive this Award on African Level
Photo: Annonciata Byukusenge, a Rwandan journalist, has written history as the first Rwandan female scribe to win recognition at the prestigious Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Africa Media Awards.
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