Lomé 5: two secular actors crowned with the François Sergy Prize 2023
The Forum of Christian Media in French-speaking Africa (FOMECAF) and the Radio Réveil Association are jointly awarding the 2023 François SERGY Prize to photographer Koudousse Moustapha from Benin and radio promoter Rabiou Hamadou from Niger.
On February 24, FOMECAF officials, in collaboration with the Franco-Swiss Association Radio Réveil, awarded an incentive prize to media specialists for the fourth time on the last day of the Lomé 5 seminar. This year, Koudousse Moustapha from Benin and Rabiou Hamadou from Niger won over the jury. The social impact of the former and the promotion of peace and "living together" by the latter are in line with the theme of the seminar that has just ended in Lomé, as well as the lessons taught by FOMECAF since 2019.
The François Sergy Prize honors participants in the Lomé seminars who have distinguished themselves by putting into practice the lessons learned during the five seminars organized since 2019 in the Togolese capital.
Beninese photographer receives award
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 graduating from high school, he enrolled in a photography course in 2017, a media activity that was already his passion. He obtained his certificate of professional qualification (CQM) in 2020. His talent was quickly spotted. Among his assignments, it is worth noting one for the Presidency 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. Armed with the knowledge he gained, he started "Kovart Digital School" a few weeks later, a project involved in 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 Nigerian national, he is the promoter of Radio Nagarta in Maradi, Niger. His editorial line gives a voice to the entire social, cultural, and religious mosaic that populates this region in the east of his country, which is plagued by instability due to armed jihadist groups not far away. "I dedicate this award to all the victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war and their families," he said as he received his award. It did not escape this media sleuth that the award was presented to him exactly one year after the outbreak of war in Europe. (c)
About the François Sergy Prize
The François Sergy Prize was established in 2019. In conjunction with FOMECAF, it pays tribute to a particularly deserving media activity, in memory of journalist François Sergy, a contributor to Radio Réveil who has since passed away and who was himself of African origin. In 2019, Dodji Juliette Kpessou received the award for her series of columns "O2Vie." Jean-Luc Simbilyabo from 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 " the Lomé Declaration ," which brings together actors from the religious media in French-speaking Africa once a year.
