The African Fact-Checking Awards celebrate excellence in fact-checking journalism across the continent. Now in their 12th year, these awards honour individuals who work tirelessly to champion the use of factual information - a cornerstone of transparency and trust in societies increasingly challenged by misinformation and disinformation.
“Now in their 12th year, these awards honour individuals who work tirelessly and with excellence to champion the use of factual information. Their efforts form a cornerstone of transparency and trust in our societies, especially at a time when misinformation and disinformation threaten to erode them,” said Hlalani Gumpo, Africa Check’s head of outreach and impact.
2025 winners
Fact-checks on military, degree and vaccine falsehoods win big at the 2025 African Fact-Checking Awards.
2024 winners
Fact-checks on presidential degree fraud, impact of climate crisis on women the winners of 2024 African Fact-Checking Awards.
2023 winners
Work on police brutality, inauthentic online campaigns and workers’ rights the big winners at 2023 African Fact-Checking Awards
2022 winners
The awards recognised false claims about US bio-labs in Nigeria, a hijacked Twitter campaign spreading vaccine misinformation in Ghana, and anti-vax myths about Covid-19 vaccines for children in Mauritius.
2021 winners
The winning fact-checks exposed false claims about a herbal Covid-19 cure in Uganda and the Nigerian army’s denial of the Lekki Toll Gate shooting.
2019 winners
The winning fact-checks exposed false government claims about infrastructure projects in Nigeria and challenged a claim about maternal mortality rates in Senegal.
2018 winners
The winning fact-checks investigated false claims about a drop in pre-school enrolment in Nigeria and pollution levels in Dakar, Senegal.
2017 winners
The winning fact-checks tackled false political claims in Kenya, a Beninese minister’s statement about public space obligations, and a misleading comment by Macron on African birth rates.
Entries are judged based on the following criteria:
Significance
The significance for wider society of the claim/statement investigated. How much does the topic matter to society at large and how serious could the consequences be if the claim wasn't fact-checked
Testing
How was the claim tested against the available evidence? Fact-checkers must take a long, hard look at the claim/statement that was made. Fact-checking entails rigorously sifting through the publicly available evidence for and against the claim. This should be done in a way that is fair to the person or institution who made the claim and strict in assessing the evidence
Presentation
How well does the piece present the evidence for and against the claim? A good fact-checking report is structured in such a way that it's understandable and makes the topic accessible to the widest possible public.
Impact
The impact that the fact-check had on public debate on the topic. Did it lead to a correction, did it have significant reach, or was it shared by other organisations or members of the media, for instance?
Previous winners
2025
The awards ceremony took place in Accra, Ghana, after two days of another exciting edition of the Africa Facts summit ended with the Awards gala dinner, where the winners and runners-up of this year’s African Fact-Checking Awards were crowned.
Winners
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Ariel Gbaguidi, La Nation, Faux ! Ces images ne montrent pas une base française ni un site de ravitaillement pour terroristes
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact-Checker: Samad Uthman, AFP Fact Check, AI video falsely claims to show US-based Nigerian scientist advertising heart disease remedy
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Badra Dabbabi, She Checks, HPV vaccination is not related to infertility
Runners-up
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Fana Cissé, Ouestaf, Un Sénégalais consacre-t-il au moins 54 % de ses revenus à son loyer ?
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact-Checker: Hossam Elhendy, Factcheckar, Is Cardiff City University, from which the new Egyptian Minister of Education obtained his doctorate, real or fictitious?
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Iretomiwa Balogun, Roundcheck, Exposing social media claim that at any liquid can make pregnancy test strip turn positive
2024
The awards ceremony took place in Accra, Ghana, after two days of another exciting edition of the Africa Facts summit ended with the Awards gala dinner, where the winners and runners-up of this year’s African Fact-Checking Awards were crowned.
Winners
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Chiagozie Nwonwu, Fauziyya Tukur & Olaronke Alo, BBC, “Bola Tinubu diploma: No evidence Nigeria's president forged college record”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact-Checker: Adnan Salif Hamidou Sidibe, Fasocheck, “Pas de preuves que les femmes constituent 80 % des personnes affectées par la crise climatique”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Rita Enemuru, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, “FACT-CHECK: Claim That Federal Government Has Mandated DNA Test For Newborns Is False, Misleading”
Runners-up
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Ousmane Mamoudou, Studio Kalangou - Fondation Hirondelle, “Ces équipements militaires n’appartiennent pas à l’armée du Niger mais celle du Ghana”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact-Checker: Simbiat Bakare, Dubawa, “INVESTIGATION: Odalo, Nigeria’s Twitter swindler faking “heart disease” to scam women”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact-Checker: James Okong'o, AFP Fact Check, “Kenyan doctor spreads harmful disinformation about the WHO, vaccines and infertility”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Diksha Caulleechurn, Mansha Deenoo, Preetish Kishto , Lloyd Lallmamode, University of Mauritius, “Have the prices of basic commodities such as cheese and tuna really doubled in the past five years?”
2023
The Africa Facts summit held in Port Louis, Mauritius was brought to a celebratory end with the Awards gala dinner, which announced the winners and runners-up of this year’s African Fact-Checking Awards.
Winners
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Moussa Ngom, La Maison Des Reporters, & Laureline Savoye, Le Monde Afrique, "Sénégal : enquête sur les « nervis du pouvoir »”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact Checker: James Okong'o & Mary Kulundu, AFP Fact Check, “Kenya police misleadingly use old protest photos in online hunt for March 2023 rally participants”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Papa Bocar Mbow, CESTI, “Mbeubeuss est-elle la plus grande décharge à ciel ouvert d'Afrique?”
Runners-up
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Claire Mom, TheCable, “How fake anonymous Facebook accounts spread disinformation and incite violence”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Professional Fact Checker: Kemi Busari, Dubawa, “Baba Aisha, Nigeria’s fake ‘doctor’ cashing out on deadly concoction that cures nothing”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Komagal Chocalingum, Georges Aurore & Permalloo Suhaasinee, University of Mauritius, “Will employees really get a minimum wage of Rs 15,000 or will they only get Rs 12,750 due to taxes?”
2022
The Africa Facts summit held in Nairobi, Kenya concluded with the African Fact-Checking Awards on Thursday 10 November 2022, with fact checkers from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Mauritius taking top honours. We received more than 190 entries from 24 countries this year and we continue to see a rise in the quality of entries.
Winners
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Kunle Adebajo, HumAngle in Nigeria, "Factcheck: Russia Claims U.S. Is Making Bioweapons In Nigeria. True?"
- Fact Check of the Year by a Professional Fact Checker: Jonas Nyabor, Dubawa Ghana, "Unmasking the faces behind the COVID-19 anti-vaccination campaign in Ghana"
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Vidyasharita Bumma, Kokeelavani Mauree and Sachita Gobeen, University of Mauritius, "A Mauritian media organisation published an article containing misleading claims on vaccination for children"
Runners-up
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Kabir Yusuf, Premium Times in Nigeria, "FACT-CHECK: How true is Buhari’s claim that Nigeria is better off today than in 2015?"
- Fact Check of the Year by a Professional Fact Checker: James Okong'o, AFP Fact Check, "False political quotes fuel online disinformation ahead of Kenya election"
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Elizabeth Henri-Héloïse, University of Mauritius, "La hausse du prix des carburants à Maurice : est-ce qu’il y a eu une hausse de 140% ?"
2021
We received a record number of 216 entries from 28 countries.
Winners
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Jean le Roux, DFRLab South Africa: “Nigerian army dismisses Lekki Toll Gate massacre as ‘fake news’”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Reagan Kiyimba, Makerere University in Uganda: “#TheDebunkShow Episode 4 | #COVID19 cure joy”
Runners-up
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Oluwasegun Olakoyenikan, AFP Fact Check Nigeria: “False EU statement about rescue of kidnapped kids circulates in Nigeria”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Fatma Mbacké, CESTI journalism school in Senegal: « Le Ghana a-t-il arrêté ses exportations de cacao vers l'Europe ? »
2020
We received a record number of 192 entries from 27 African countries in 2020.
Winners
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Taiwo Adebulu “FACT CHECK: Nigeria told UN that 7 varsities run strictly on renewable energy, but is this true?”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Marième Fatou Dramé “Une organisation féministe publie des informations trompeuses sur les jeunes filles sénégalaises ( absentéisme scolaire, gestion des règles)”
Runners-up
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist: Aisha Abdool Karim “The coronavirus ‘vaccine’ Ekurhuleni wants to import doesn’t exist”
- Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist: Oluwaseye Ogunsanya “Did Nigeria’s Minister Of Education Announce Resumption of Schools On September 7?”
2019
We received a total of 153 entries from more than 20 countries all across the continent – from Ethiopia, Nigeria and Senegal to Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Winners
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist: Odinaka Anudu, BDSunday, “Ongoing projects in South East: Truth vs lies”, Nigeria
- Best fact-checking report by a student journalist: Souleymane Diassy, CESTI – Centre d’Etudes des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information, « Santé : Kolda a-t-elle le plus grand ratio de mortalité maternelle au Sénégal ? », Senegal
Runner-ups
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist: Oluwamayowa Tijani, AFP Fact Check, “A minister claimed that Nigeria has ‘more than enough’ doctors. In fact, there’s a huge shortage”, Nigeria
- Best fact-checking report by a student journalist: Dieynaba Thiombane, CESTI – Centre d’Etudes des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information, « Santé : Le taux de prévalence du VIH/Sida est-il passé de 18 à 20% entre 2014 et 2017 chez les homosexuels au Sénégal ? », Senegal
2018
We received over 150 entries from more than 20 countries, from Ethiopia, Nigeria and Egypt to South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Winners
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist: Chikezie Omeje, International Centre For Investigative Reporting (ICIR), “FACT CHECK: Did Nigeria record a reduction in preschool enrolment?”, Nigeria
- Best fact-checking report by a student journalist: Moussa Ngom, CESTI, “Dakar n’est pas la deuxième ville au monde la plus polluée”, Senegal
Runners-up
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist: Jason Norwood-Young, Daily Maverick, “#CapeWaterGate: The figures prove that Capetonians are saving water”, South Africa
- Best fact-checking report by a student journalist: Ibraheem Alawode, Dubawa, “Does Nigeria Have The Highest Number Of Out-Of-School Children In The World?”, Nigeria
2017
In 2017, we received a record number of applications – 159 entries from 25 countries – from Ethiopia and Egypt in the north to South Africa and Zimbabwe in the south, before entries closed on 31 August.
Winners
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist (English-language): Dorothy Otieno (on behalf of Nation Newsplex Team), Before you vote, Nation Media Group, Kenya
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist (French-language): Alexandra Djotan, MAG La Libération Forcée Des Emprises Du Domaine Public Fait Des Million De Victimes, Radio Parakou, Benin
- Best fact-checking report by a student journalist (English or French): Moussa Ngom, Pourquoi Macron a tout faux…, attending CESTI, Senegal
Runners-up
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist (English-language): Arison Tamfu, FEATURE: As Paul Biya Looks to Running Again in 2018, Has He delivered on his 2011 electoral promises?, Cameroon Journal, Cameroon
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist (French-language): Nesmon de Laure Pie, Décryptage- Naissances élevées, les experts s’affrontent, » l’Afrique peut avaler ses populations », PôleAfrique.info, Côte d’Ivoire
2016
After reviewing 130 entries from 22 countries the judges selected the following:
Winners
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist (English-language): Arison Tamfu, The Many Falsehoods in President Biya’s Laptop Gift to University Students, Cameroon Journal, Cameroon.
- Best fact-checking report by a working journalist (French-language): Anderson Diédri, The Ivorian State plunders 11,000 hectares of land in Famienkro, Eburnietoday.com, Côte d’Ivoire.
Runners-up
- Phathizwe Mongezi Zulu, Lies, public money and a redone DC-9 in Swaziland, AmaBhungane and GroundUp websites, Swaziland
- Dayo Oketola, NigComSat-1R becoming white elephant four years after – investigation, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
2015
After entries from more than 50 journalists in 15 countries, the jury selected the below winners and runners-up:
Winner
- Best fact-checking report: Ben Ezeamalu, Premium Times, Nigeria
Runners-up
- Phillip de Wet, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
- Pieter-Louis Myburgh, Rapport/City Press, South Africa
