An investigative report on how open tyre burning is driving students away from HLA Grammar School, Agodi, Oyo State has been shortlisted for the 2026 Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) Journalist of the Year Awards in the radio category.

The report, titled “Slow Poisoning: How Open Tyre Burning Is Driving Students Away from School in Oyo”, was produced by Juliet Buna of Crest FM, Nigeria, and facilitated by DevReporting in partnership with Education as a Vaccine (EVA), with support from the Malala Fund.

The investigation has since prompted action by the Oyo State Government, which announced plans to relocate scrap metal dealers operating at Agodi spare parts market and construct a perimeter fence around HLA Grammar School, Ibadan, to address the health and security risks exposed by the report.

The decisions followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) also conducted an on-site inspection and forwarded its findings to its national headquarters for further action.

Meanwhile, AMDF announced the finalists in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Sekyen Dadik, who said the submissions from nine African countries had undergone a rigorous assessment.

Ms Buna emerged as the sole finalist in the radio category, with her report examining how open tyre burning affects students in Oyo State.

The investigation explored how the persistent burning of used tyres disrupts the learning environment and drives students away from school, drawing attention to the effects of environmental pollution on children’s right to education.

AMDF announces finalists across categories

According to Mrs Dadik, the 2026 awards attracted entries from Benin, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

In the online category, the finalists are Hammad Abdulrasheed of Ripples Nigeria, Janefrances Chibundu of TheCable and Nanji Nandang of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), all from Nigeria.

The print category features Chima Azubuike and Daniel Ayantoye, both of PUNCH Newspaper, Nigeria, and Sisay Sahlu Nigatu of The Reporter, Ethiopia.

Nana Boakye Dankwah Yiadom of Joy News, Ghana, emerged as the sole finalist in the television category, while no finalist was recommended in the photography category following the assessment of submissions received.

The Chairman of the Selection Committee and Managing Editor of Africa Prime News, Joseph Edegbo, said the entries were assessed against established criteria, including development relevance, investigative depth, originality, research and evidence, public-interest value, storytelling and actual or potential impact.

Mr Edegbo said the committee examined the substance of the submitted journalistic works rather than relying solely on applicants’ descriptions. It also conducted comparisons within each category to identify entries that best exemplified development journalism.

Dapo Olorunyomi to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Veteran journalist and chief executive officer (CEO) of Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), Dapo Olorunyomi has been named recipient of the 2026 AMDF Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award recognises veteran journalists and media figures whose careers have made lasting contributions to development journalism, public discourse and ethical reporting in Africa.

According to AMDF, the Lifetime Achievement Award is selected exclusively by its board, with one recipient honoured annually.

The winners and runners-up in the Journalist of the Year categories, alongside the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced at the 10th Africa Conference on Development Journalism scheduled for 2-4 December 2026.

AMDF congratulated the finalists and acknowledged all journalists who submitted entries, recognising their contributions to development-focused journalism across Africa.