Lomé 5: Two Secular Figures Honored with the 2023 François Sergy Prize
The Francophone African Christian Media Forum (FOMECAF) and the Radio Réveil Association are jointly awarding the 2023 François SERGY Prize to photographer Koudousse Moustapha of Benin and radio broadcaster Rabiou Hamadou of Niger.
On February 24, FOMECAF officials, in collaboration with the Franco-Swiss Association Radio Réveil, presented an encouragement award to media professionals for the fourth time on the final day of the Lomé 5 seminar. This year, Koudousse Moustapha of Benin and Rabiou Hamadou of Niger impressed the jury. The first’s focus on social impact and the second’s emphasis on promoting peace and “living together” align with the theme of the seminar that just concluded in Lomé, as well as with the teachings provided by FOMECAF since 2019.
The François Sergy Award honors participants in the Lomé seminars who have distinguished themselves through their application of the lessons learned during the five seminars held since 2019 in the Togolese capital.
A photographer from Benin is honored
Koudousse Moustapaha, a young photojournalist from Benin, runs “Kovart Digital School,” a photography school founded just one year ago in Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin. After earning his high school diploma, he enrolled in a photography program in 2017, pursuing a field in the media that was already his passion. He earned his Certificate of Professional Qualification (CQM) in 2020. His talent was quickly recognized. Among the assignments he has undertaken is one for the Office of the President of Benin, which has placed its trust in him. Koudousse Moustapaha participated in the Lomé 4 seminar and has since distinguished himself through the quality of his work. Building on what he learned, he launched “Kovart Digital School” a few weeks later, an initiative dedicated to social action. This school is located in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
A radio personality from Maradi
Rabiou Hamadou is the second recipient of the François Sergy Award. A citizen of Niger, he is the founder of “Radio Nagarta” in Maradi, Niger. The station’s editorial line gives a voice to the entire social, cultural, and religious mosaic that makes up this region in the eastern part of his country, which is plagued by instability caused by nearby jihadist armed groups. “I dedicate this award to all the victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war and their families,” he said upon receiving his award. It did not escape this media veteran’s notice that the award was presented to him exactly one year to the day after the outbreak of the war in Europe. (c)
About the François Sergy Prize
The François Sergy Award was established in 2019. In partnership with FOMECAF, it honors a particularly commendable media project in memory of the late journalist François Sergy, a contributor to Radio Réveil who was himself of African descent. In 2019, Dodji Juliette Kpessou received the award for her series of columns titled “O2Vie.” Jean-Luc Simbilyabo of the DRC was honored in 2020 for his contributions in Ituri (eastern Congo). In 2021, Abdoualye Cissé was honored for his work and perseverance in Timbuktu (Mali).
More information about the other recipients of the François Sergy Award:
About FOMECAF
Since 2019, the Forum of Christian Media in French-Speaking Africa (FOMECAF) has brought together the signatories of “ The Lomé Declaration ,” which brings together representatives of faith-based media in French-speaking Africa once a year.
