Juliana Agbo, a reporter with The Nation, has been named the Best Print Category winner at the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Africa Media Awards, held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Agbo received the prestigious continental recognition on Friday during OFAB Africa’s Annual Review and Planning Meeting, which convened journalists and biotechnology stakeholders from across the continent. The award comes with a cash prize, an iPhone 15 Pro, and a certificate, adding to her recent accolades from the OFAB Nigeria Media Awards, where she won both Best Print and Overall awards, along with a HP laptop, Samsung Galaxy tablet, and cash prize.

Representing Nigeria among 38 contestants from 10 African countries, Agbo stood out with an in-depth and compelling story on agricultural biotechnology, a sector critical to Africa’s food security and climate resilience.

OFAB, a joint initiative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter, operates across 10 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Malawi.

Agbo dedicated her award to fellow Nigerian journalists committed to impactful development reporting, expressing hope that her recognition would inspire more media professionals to engage deeply with science and agriculture reporting.

The ceremony attracted policymakers, researchers, media leaders, and development partners, all emphasizing the importance of effective science communication. Margaret Karembu, Director of ISAAA AfriCentre, highlighted the need for public trust in innovations, stating, “Communities must trust it. Policymakers must support it. Farmers must feel empowered when they adopt these innovations.” She added that journalists are key in bridging the gap between laboratories and communities.

Welcoming guests, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director of AATF, praised journalists for making scientific knowledge accessible and actionable. He stressed that accurate, evidence-based reporting helps communities adopt agricultural innovations while holding leaders accountable. Kanangire underscored that innovation alone is insufficient without effective communication, public trust, and inclusive dialogue, noting that the OFAB programme aligns with global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063.

He further encouraged media professionals to probe emerging trends, challenge narratives, and ensure that the benefits of biotechnology are shared equitably, emphasizing that well-governed communication is vital for sustainable agricultural development and food security across Africa.