PREMIUM TIMES journalist Ndidiamaka Ede has made it to the final 12 nominees for the 2026 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award.
The Thomson Foundation announced the finalists on Tuesday. They looked at "651 stories submitted by 217 journalists from 56 countries."
The finalists come from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Their work covers issues like corruption, abuse of power, conflict, human trafficking, exploitation, and the stories of people who often go unheard.
Other finalists include Si Err Yap from Malaysia, Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu and Aaron Atsahyel from Nigeria, Heorhii Shabaev from Ukraine, Rafly Pratama from Indonesia, Humberto Basilio from Mexico, Afrah Borji from Yemen, and Douha Amrani from Algeria.
The list also features Patricia Ngevao from Sierra Leone, Alain Kanyombo from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and William Kamau from Kenya.
The foundation praised the finalists for their “extraordinary bravery and tenacity.” Some journalists spent months on investigations that had a big impact.
Catherine Mackie, Learning Manager at the Thomson Foundation, said, “Many of the young journalists in this year’s competition are working in really challenging circumstances. Their powerful storytelling shows extraordinary bravery and tenacity.”
She added, “At times, weeks and months have been spent on investigations which continue to have a real impact.”
Ndidiamaka got shortlisted for her investigation into the disappearance of a Nigerian businessman who was abducted by police officers in Lagos and moved to Anambra State.
Her report, published by PREMIUM TIMES, highlighted the widow's long struggle for justice, which remains out of reach. It also looks at the broader effects of police brutality in Nigeria.
About the award
The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award is an annual competition. It is organised in partnership with the UK’s Foreign Press Association (FPA) and presented at their annual awards event in London. This competition is for journalists aged 30 and under from countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of less than US$20,000.
The award has been given since 2013. It recognises journalists focused on investigative journalism, social issues, and holding power accountable.
The foundation will announce the winner of the 2026 award at the annual FPA Awards ceremony in London in November.
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