Sahara Group opens Asharami Square fellowship for African journalists, offers $3,500 prize
By Aboki Forex —
Sahara Group has opened applications for its Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship for African journalists. The winner will receive a $3,500 cash prize, with the full package valued at up to $5,000.
Fellowship targets energy journalism
The programme is open to practising journalists working across print, broadcast, digital and multimedia platforms. It offers expert-led masterclasses, mentorship sessions, facility tours and access to energy sector professionals.
Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, lead assessor for the inaugural fellowship, said the initiative promotes solutions journalism and aims to improve the quality of energy reporting across Africa.
She argued that the future of Africa's energy sector depends not only on infrastructure, funding and policy reforms, but also on how effectively journalists inform the public about energy challenges and opportunities.
What assessors will look for
Entries will be judged on five key areas: integrity and accuracy, originality and research depth, balance and context, solutions-focused rigour, and practical impact.
Assessors will prioritise stories backed by credible data and strong fact-checking. They will also favour reports that uncover under-reported perspectives and demonstrate real-world impact.
Ogwezzy-Ndisika urged journalists to move beyond conventional problem-focused reporting. She said the fellowship is intended to transform journalists from “mere observers” of Africa's energy problems into active contributors to conversations around sustainable energy development.
“Journalists must not settle for shallow headlines. They should trace the funding, critique the technology, interrogate the policies and highlight the responses transforming Africa's energy landscape,” she said.
She stressed that solutions journalism is not advocacy or public relations. She described it as evidence-based reporting that prioritises accountability, rigorous scrutiny and measurable outcomes.
Sahara Group's position
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, said the fellowship reflects the company's belief that journalism has an important role in shaping Africa's energy future.
He said Africa needs reporting that does more than highlight energy deficits. It must also examine practical responses and help audiences understand the forces shaping the sector.
Obioma added that Sahara Group hopes to support journalists capable of producing evidence-based stories that can contribute to better policy decisions, investment and development outcomes.
The fellowship focuses on energy access, infrastructure, financing, sustainability, innovation and policy.
Deadline and application
African journalists interested in participating should apply through the Asharami Square Fellowship website before November 30, 2026.
Sahara Group said the programme is part of its commitment to supporting people and platforms that contribute to Africa's development through informed public discourse and practical solutions.