Among the honourees is Ousman A. Marong, General Manager of Niumi FM, a privately-owned radio station based in Essau, rural Gambia.
Marong, a respected journalist and outspoken advocate on issues surrounding irregular migration and youth empowerment, joins a distinguished lineup of fellows recognised for their commitment to impactful storytelling and community development.
The fellowship, designed to support innovative journalism projects tackling pressing social challenges, offers recipients access to resources, mentorship, and a platform to amplify underrepresented voices while fostering sustainable solutions.
Reacting to his selection, Marong said the recognition was deeply meaningful, describing it as a strong encouragement to continue championing "journalism of necessity", a mission to inform, uplift, and inspire communities through responsible reporting.
Marong is currently undertaking an online specialisation in Migration Studies with the Global Migration Media Academy in Geneva, Switzerland. His commitment to professional growth reflects his broader aspiration to identify and address challenges facing The Gambia's media landscape.
Encouraging fellow journalists to pursue international honours and meaningful journalism initiatives, he remarked, “Let’s be motivated to enter prestigious international awards and journalism-related programmes that empower us and benefit the global community. I hope to discover solutions to the Gambia’s media issues following my course in Nigeria.”
He also called on international and national stakeholders including the US Embassy and UN agencies operating in The Gambia to decentralise media support, noting that much of the attention remains concentrated within the Greater Banjul Area (GBA). Marong emphasised that vital developments in rural regions deserve greater media visibility, saying: “Responsible journalists are born to make society liveable,” he stated.
Concluding his remarks, Marong expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Solutions Journalism West Africa Fellowship for the opportunity, looking ahead to the four-month residency in Nigeria and the impact his work will have during and beyond the programme.
