Development Communications (DEVCOMS) Network, a Nigeria media-development non-governmental organization has emerged the first winner of ONE Africa Award 2008

Devcoms Network according to a statement by organizers of the award at the on-going CSO Parallel Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana was awarded the prize of $100,000 for their work with the media in Nigeria, training and sensitizing journalists and editors to public health care issues, especially for women and children

The award is the first annual ONE Africa Award, created to honour outstanding contributions by Africans towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

“Devcoms was selected because they are innovative, have demonstrated a strong positive effect in working towards improved health care for women and children, and also to ensure MDG funding in Nigeria is properly monitored. We were also impressed by their plans to scale up their programmes.” said Oliver Buston from ONE

ONE, backed by 2.4 million people worldwide, is a global advocacy and campaigning organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty around the globe, with a special focus on Africa. ONE

An elated Programme Director of Devcoms Network, Akin Jimoh who received the award said “it is a great opportunity to expand our scope of service to the women and children of Africa,”
“We believe the silent sighs of our women and children have to stop. We will equip our media to track the huge resources budgeted for MDGs 4 and 5, as well as other issues, from allocation to implementation.
”We particularly appreciate the recognition given to media work by our NGO partners, especially the Core Technical Committee and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Nigeria” Jimoh added.