Rukia Bulle, a journalist for the “Nation,” has been awarded the BBC Komla Dumor Award

Rukia Bulle, a journalist for Nation Media Group, has been awarded the esteemed BBC Komla Dumor Award for 2024. The BBC website published the announcement on Wednesday morning.

Ms. Bulle is the third Kenyan to receive the award since its inception in 2015 in memory of the late Ghanaian broadcaster and BBC journalist Komla Dumor.

Ms. Rukia’s exceptional skillset, resilience, and ability to manage challenging stories, as well as her emphasis on highlighting underrepresented voices and her strong on-air presence, impressed the judges, according to the BBC.

Ms. Rukia is a multimedia journalist who serves as a correspondent for NTV. She has reported on a diverse array of national events and news features throughout the nation, with a particular emphasis on human interest stories and news features. Additionally, she contributes to the Daily Nation and www.nation.africa.

As part of the award, Ms. Rukia, 26, will spend three months in London, working with BBC News teams in television, radio, and online. This experience, mentorship, and other opportunities will be invaluable. She will also travel to an African country of her choosing to produce a story that will be broadcast on BBC News.

Komla Dumor, a highly acclaimed journalist, was renowned for his exceptional storytelling and dedication to accurately representing and reporting on African stories. He was one of the lead presenters for the BBC World News European morning segment and presented Focus on Africa on BBC World News. In January 2014, he passed away unexpectedly.

“Winning this award is of immense significance to me.” To be recognized on a global scale through the Komla Dumor Award is an immensely gratifying experience, as a journalist who is perpetually striving to perform at the highest level, irrespective of recognition. Ms. Rukia stated, “I wished to pay tribute to and contribute to Komla’s legacy in some capacity.”

“He embodied the true essence of journalism: truth, accuracy, and objectivity; he was one of the most exceptional journalists of his generation.” This award invigorates my enthusiasm and inspires me to enhance my journalism skills. She further stated, “I aspire for this award to motivate young women, including myself, who belong to minority communities and wear the hijab, to pursue their aspirations and achieve their objectives.”

Ms. Rukia holds a journalism degree from the United States International University (USIU). The same university is where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in International Relations.

“This is a source of excitement for us at NMG.” Rukia has established herself as the quintessential 21st-century journalist through her exceptional digital storytelling abilities and her acute awareness of audience preferences. Joe Ageyo, the NMG Editor in Chief, stated, “This is not only a timely recognition of her unique ability to leverage digital platforms for public interest journalism, but also a veritable validation of the new journalistic direction we have taken here at NMG.”

“She is undoubtedly a deserving addition to the distinguished roster of African journalists who have received the esteemed Komla Dumor Award.” Mr. Ageyo delivered his congratulations to Rukia on behalf of the NMG content team and extended his best wishes to her as she prepares to depart for London in the near future.

In 2023, Ms. Rukia was recognized as one of the top 100 most influential Kenyan Muslims. She has established a substantial following on TikTok by providing relatable and informative content about the life of a journalist. 

“I am thrilled that the BBC World Service Komla Dumor Award is fostering the careers of exceptional journalists throughout Africa.” “We are delighted to announce that Rukia Bulle has been selected as this year’s beneficiary of the award. We are eager to provide her with the necessary support during her placement in London,” stated Tarik Kafala, the acting director of the BBC World Service. “Previous beneficiaries of the award have made substantial contributions to public service journalism.

Waihiga Mwaura (2018), who is presently the main presenter for Focus on Africa, and Victoria Rubadiri (2020), who hosts the CNN International TV series Connecting Africa, are the other Kenyans who have received the award.

Nancy Kacungira (2015), a BBC News presenter, Solomon Serwanjja (2019), Executive Director of the African Institute for Investigative Journalism, and Paa Kwesi Asare (2023), an anchor at Ghanaian broadcaster TV3, are among the other previous champions.