Our colleague Abdou Karim Sawadogo has just been honored: he is one of the recipients of the 2024 Galian Award, which recognizes the best journalistic works of the past year in Burkina Faso. Abdou Karim Sawadogo received the United Nations System Award for his reports on displaced persons. The official awards ceremony, also known as the Galian Night, took place this Friday, June 14, 2024, in Ouagadougou, where he was presented with this award valued at 1 million F CFA.
“It is with humility that I accept this award,” Sawadogo declared: “Indeed, who am I to deserve such a distinction! I have nothing that I have not received from the Lord. Since the assassination of Pastor Pierre Ouédraogo and several of his followers on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Silgadji, in the northeast of the country, I understood that a turning point had been reached in the security crisis shaking our nation. I then began to dedicate my writing to finding solutions. FOMECAF's communications particularly reinforced in me the journalist's sense of social responsibility and the pursuit of excellence. Thus, my reports focused on the impact of this crisis, highlighting the vulnerability of internally displaced persons. This recognition gives me additional motivation to persevere in my commitment, and I hope that my country will find peace again. I want to express my full gratitude to the FOMECAF stakeholders for their guidance and the inspiration they provide us.”
“Since the assassination of Pastor Pierre Ouédraogo and several of his followers on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Silgadji, in the northeast of the country, I understood that a turning point had been reached in the security crisis shaking our nation.”
Abdou Karim Sawadogo
Honored with the United Nations Award
According to the United Nations, “Abdou Karim Sawadogo has earned significant merit in promoting resilience, stabilization, and female entrepreneurship.”The Galian Award, now in its 27th edition, celebrates excellence in journalism and communication in Burkina Faso. In total, 140 journalistic works competed in this edition.
Sawadogo, who distinguished himself with his leadership and organizational skills during the decentralized FOMECAF – Ouaga 2023 session, is no stranger to awards. In March 2024, he received the 2nd prize from the Red Cross for his best reports on the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso. In 2018, he had already received an international award for his article on integrated water resource management in Burkina Faso, during Stockholm World Water Week in Sweden.
Other Award Winners
In addition to Abdou Karim Sawadogo, other award winners were honored during the 27th Galian Night. Here are some of the winners:
- Akim Ky, a journalist, won the special award from the House of Enterprises for his work titled « Saagga or the Rain: This Intelligent and Rational Water Distribution System ».
- Willy SAGBE, also a journalist, received the special award from the World Health Organization (WHO) for his work « Fighting Dengue: Self-medication, Unsanitary Conditions, and Misinformation, the Other Evils to Combat! ».
In summary, over 13 years of existence, the online media outlet Burkina 24 has won a total of 16 Galian awards, comprising both official and special prizes. This ceremony also marked the establishment of Galian Kids, in partnership with UNICEF, to discover journalistic talents among schoolchildren in Burkina Faso
About FOMECAF
The Forum of Christian Media in Francophone Africa (FOMECAF) is an initiative led by the Médias Ebène Association, aiming to equip Christian radio broadcasters in Francophone regions. Its objective is to promote a new level of excellence in broadcasting and to foster peace in a world of conflicts. FOMECAF organizes training sessions and brings together Christian media professionals to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and strengthen their impact. It serves as an important platform for collaboration and continuous improvement of Christian media in Francophone Africa.(c)