Paris, France, 2nd October 2004 – The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) has organized at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris the third international ceremony for presenting the prizes to the winners of the 2004 edition of the African Education Journalism Award - Akintola Fatoyinbo.
The ceremony was attended by about fifty senior officials, including the ADEA President, Ahlin Byll Cataria, the ADEA Executive-Secretary, Mamadou Ndoye, Mrs Aïcha Bah Diallo, Acting Assistant Director General for Education at UNESCO. Also invited to the ceremony were the ambassadors of the prize winners’ native countries (South Africa, Namibia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire), Celtel, sponsor of the award, and various partners such as UNESCO, the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), Radio France International, and the Times Education Supplement.
Professor Alfred Opubor, master of the awards ceremony and coordinator of the COMED Working Group recalled that one of the major objectives of the award is to promote high quality press on education in Africa.
The ADEA President, Ahlin Byll Cataria, congratulated the award winners and encouraged them to spend more time covering issues related to education, which is the basis of all development. He then thanked the partners, the members of the jury, and the Celtel for their support to this important undertaking.
In his speech, Mr. Birger Frederiksen, Senior Educational Advisor at the World Bank, stressed the three main reasons for the Norwegian Fiduciary Fund for Education, located at the World Bank to support the project:
- education is fundamental to the development of Africa because, according to him, no country can develop without a performing educational system,
- journalists must be high standard professionals who will be capable of enlightening relevant debates on the challenges and problems facing educational systems;
- journalists voice the claims of the least privileged members of society.
He concluded his speech by reiterating the support of his Organization for the activities related to the award and more generally to the ADEA’s Working Group on Communication for Education and Development (COMED).
Mrs. Thanh Hoa Desruelles, head of communications for the ADEA, welcomed a growing infatuation for the competition and noted that, for this third edition, some 200 journalists from almost every country in Africa, had participated and presented a total of 392 articles. for the competition and noted that for this third edition some 200 journalists, representing almost every country in Africa, had participated and presented a total of 392 articles.
Prize distribution of 2004 :
- Fousséni Traoré, Le Républicain, Mali (First Prize - Articles in French). Prize presented by Mamadou Ndoye, Executive Secretary of ADEA.
- Josette Barry, Fraternité Matin, Côte d’Ivoire (Second Prize - Articles in French). Prize presented by Mrs. Aïcha Bah Diallo, Assitant Director General for Basic Education, UNESCO.
- Moshoeshoe Monare, Sunday Times, South Africa (First Prize – Articles in English). Prize presented by Bob Doe, Chief Editor, Times Education Supplement.
- Maggy Barnard, The Namibian, Namibia (Second Prize – Articles in English). Prize presented by Richard Sack former Executive Secretary of ADEA.
The First Prize winners received the sum of 2000 euros each, while the Second Prize winners received 1000 euros.
In addition to the prize in cash, the winners were also invited along with their editors-in-chief to take part in a fortnight study trip to Paris and London.
The floor was then given to the recipients of the Prize who all thanked the organizers and expressed their satisfaction as well as their wish to be always associated to the training aspect of the COMED Programme. The ceremony ended with a cocktail party hosted by ADEA.
About the COMED Working Group
ADEA’s Working Group on Communication for Education and Development (COMED) was set up with the support of the World Bank and the Norwegian Education Fiduciary Fund. The key premise underlying COMED is that the exchange of information and communication between partners is essential to establishing efficient educational systems and achieving quality education for all. Having recognized the key role of the mass media in disseminating information, COMED gives special emphasis to training journalists as well as communications officers from the African Ministries of Education.
About ADEA
ADEA was created in 1988 to foster greater collaboration and coordination between development agencies working in the field of education in Africa. Since then, the ADEA has become an instrument designed to reinforce African Ministries’ leadership capabilities as they work with funding agencies and to develop a consensus between ministries and agencies on approaches to the major issues facing education in Africa.
ADEA’s activities focus on strengthening policy dialogue between the development partners. They also strive to build institutional capacities within Africa through developing technical skills, setting up networks to exchange information and encouraging the sharing of successful strategies, innovations and experiences.
Paris, France, 2 October 2004
For further information, you may contact:
Thanh-Hoa Desruelles, Communication and Publications Officer, ADEA.
in Paris: Tel: +33/ (0)1 45 03 7769; e-mail: th.desruelles@iiep.unesco.org
Professeur Opubor, Coordinator, Working Group on Communications for Education and Development (COMED),
WANAD Center,
in Cotonou : +229/31 34 54; e-mail: comed@wanad.org
Pascal Hoba, Communication Consultant, ADEA
in Paris: Tel: +33/ (0)145 03 7768; e-mail: p.hoba@iiep.unesco.org
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