African Agricultural Journalists choose new president
Abdallah el-Kurebe has been elected as the new president of the Pan African Agricultural Journalists (PAAJ).
Abdallah el-Kurebe is a seasoned Nigerian journalist and Editor-in-Chief of ASHENEWS, with expertise in agriculture, science, health, and environmental reporting. He has worked with leading media houses, including Newsdiary Online, Newswatch Magazine and Vanguard Newspaper.
He is a multiple award-winning journalist, recognized for his contributions to agricultural biotechnology and investigative reporting. His accolades include the NUJ Torch Bearer of Press Freedom Award (2024), GYB Media Merit Award (Editors Category, 2021), and Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA) Best Body of Work in In-Depth Coverage (2014). He also was the first runner-up (Print & Online Category) at the OFAB Africa Media Awards (2017) and won the Best Agric-Biotech Reporter (Print) at the OFAB Nigeria Media Awards (2017).
Abdallah is actively involved in journalism advocacy and capacity building. Besides president of the PAAJ, he is the registrar of the Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria (SDNON), a Media Fellow with Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA) and a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Abdallah’s extensive participation in national and international workshops has solidified his expertise in agricultural reporting, and he is a strong advocate for science-based agricultural reporting, food security, and media development in Africa.
As president, he has expressed his deep honour and gratitude for the trust placed in him. He has outlined his vision for PAAJ, emphasizing the need for a stronger, more connected network of agricultural journalists in Africa. He has pledged to foster collaboration, enhance capacity-building, and ensure that agriculture journalism drives positive change in Africa.
El-Kurebe will be joined by a newly elected team, including Mr. Jean Baptiste of the Democratic Republic of Congo as vice president, Mr. Pojoley Essonana of Togo as secretary-general, Mr. Amadou Jallow of Gambia as assistant secretary, and Ms. Been Mujala of Zambia as treasurer.
The PAAJ was established in June 2017 and has over 5,000 agriculture journalists as members.