VON Journalists Honoured at Sanlam Financial Journalism Excellence Awards

Two Voice of Nigeria (VON) journalists, Blessing Enebeli and Destiny Onyemihia, have been recognised among Africa’s leading financial reporters at this year’s Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism.

At the award ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Blessing Enebeli emerged Second Runner-Up, while Destiny Onyemihia was named First Runner-Up in the Broadcast: Audio category.

The organisers praised both journalists for their professionalism and compelling storytelling, describing their work as a clear reflection of the rising quality and influence of Nigerian journalism in business and financial reporting.

“Your work stood out to the judging panel and is a testament to your dedication to quality journalism, your passion for the craft, and your remarkable talent. This is precisely why Sanlam has supported these Awards for the past 50 years to honour and celebrate journalists like you who embody excellence,” the organisers said.

Blessing Enebeli’s recognition at the Sanlam Awards further enhances her already impressive list of accolades. Earlier this year, in March 2025, she received the Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Award in the English Broadcast Category, honouring her exceptional reporting on insurance and financial resilience throughout Africa.

She was also a recipient of the 2023 Prevent Epidemics Journalism Award (Radio) from Nigeria Health Watch for her exemplary coverage of public health and epidemic preparedness.

These achievements cement her position as one of Nigeria’s and Africa’s exceptional broadcast journalists in public health, development, and financial reporting.

Destiny Onyemihia is a highly respected broadcast journalist whose work continues to gain recognition across Africa.

Onyemihia is a two-time winner of the Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards, taking top honors in 2020 and again in 2022 for his outstanding work in the Broadcast Category (English). His commitment to impactful journalism is further reflected in a series of accolades spanning several years.

Notably, he was the overall winner of the 2019 Continental Journalism Awards on the African Union Charter and earned early distinction in 2017 with the ZIMEO Excellence Award from the Africa Media Initiative for his reporting on the maritime economy.

Beyond his wins, Onyemihia has been repeatedly recognised as a runner-up in major journalism competitions. Between 2021 and 2025, he consistently ranked among the top contenders at both the Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards and the Sanlam Awards, affirming his sustained excellence and relevance in the field of financial and insurance reporting.

Destiny Onyemihia’s work continues to inform, engage, and empower audiences across the continent, making him a standout voice in African journalism.

The Broadcast: Audio category’s top prize went to Ryk van Niekerk, editor and presenter of RSG Geldsake for Moneyweb, South Africa. He was also named the 2025 Sanlam Group Financial Journalist of the Year. According to the organisers, his reporting has “informed the public, generated public debate, and triggered regulatory scrutiny.”

Record Participation

The 50th edition of the Sanlam Awards received a record-breaking 237 entries from 17 African countries, the highest in the competition’s 50 year history. This milestone highlights the growing importance of financial journalism in shaping public discourse and driving economic development across the continent.

2025 Sanlam Award Winners (All Categories).

Best Newcomer: Deogratius Wamala (Daily Monitor, Uganda)

African Growth Story: Mahamadi Sidwaya (Burkina Faso)

Business and Companies: Dewald van Rensburg (amaBhungane, South Africa)

Economy: Vernon Wessels (Currency News, South Africa)

Financial Markets: Giulietta Talevi (Currency News, South Africa)

ESG – Business and the Environment: Sikonathi Mantshantsha, Alfonso Nqunjana & Sharlene Rudolph (News24, South Africa)

Consumer Financial Education: Maya on Money (South Africa)

Broadcast – TV & Video: Devi Govender (The Devi Show, eTV, South Africa)

The outstanding achievements of Blessing Enebeli and Destiny Onyemihia mark significant milestones for Voice of Nigeria and the Nigerian media industry.

Their success further strengthens Nigeria’s growing influence and leadership in African journalism.